User Reviews

I discovered this series on YouTube. Don't know if it's well known, considering there's only one other review besides mine. That'll Teach 'Em, which I'm guessing is the counterpart to World's Strictest Parents, is a reality series where thirty 16-year-olds attended a grammar school that recreated Britain's education system from the 1950s. Not only were they given the O-level exams (the older standard, later changed to the GCSEs in 1986), but they also had to adhere to the same rules and regulations in the classroom. They boarded at a traditional school house, were subjected to harsh punishments if they fell out of line, and were expected to complete military style exercises. Viewers got an opportunity to vote on which educational system they felt was the most effective. Unlike World's Strictest Parents, it doesn't come off as scripted. It's like taking a trip on a time machine. Following the UK's 1950s style of schooling would be considered borderline abusive nowadays, but I don't know... To be honest, I think schools should return to implementing a no nonsense disciplinary system. It would make the environment more conducive to learning. I had wanted to be a school psychologist, and I have the qualifications to be a substitute teacher, but I'm scared to work in a school. I just wouldn't feel safe. I can't speak on schools in the UK, because I'm American. Public schools here have a lot of issues, and they mostly stem from kids being out of control. Not all of them, but the majority. Perhaps if school staff members addressed problems when they first arise, instead of ignoring them, there wouldn't be so many instances of students fighting, bullying each other, and bringing weapons onto school premises. Okay, my rant is over. If you love anything vintage like I do, then you'll enjoy That'll Teach 'Em. I wish they would make more shows like this. I think it would open a lot of people's eyes to societal problems.

There has been a heated debate in Britain since the 1970s about the present system of education in the country when the Labour government at the time decided to introduce an American system of education called the Comprehensive with uniforms. Reliable evidence has shown this to be disaster as qualifications are not worth their weight in gold, bad discipline and a more insecure job market.

This reality series across 3 seasons takes present day teens in to the British system before the Comprehensive from the 1950s-60s and to compare the selective system of the 11+ Grammar and Secondary schools with the standards of the Comprehensives.

There is entertainment along the way with troublesome children or children thinking that they are smarter than what they actually are compared to the tougher standards of the selective, a well as the the standards of morale and discipline. Very intriguing and education - the ministry of education can learn quite a lot - though corporal punishment should still be illegal no nonsense yes but arbritary no.