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День благодарения

С приходом глубокой осени, с окончанием работ на полях связан самый старый в Америке и, пожалуй, самый любимый аме­риканцами праздник - День Благодарения. Этот праздник благо­дарения земле за щедрость был впервые отмечен колонистами Нового Света в 1621 году. В ту пору доступным лакомством на столе была дикая индейка. И по сей день индейка (но уже домаш­няя) и пирог с тыквой - непременные блюда на празднике.

Comprehension Check

1. Are there any national holidays in the US?

2. What federal public holidays do you know and how are they observed in the country?

3. Which of the holidays is believed to be the most American?

4. What is the historical background of Thanksgiving Day?

5. How is this holiday celebrated?

6. Why is Independence Day an important holiday and what is its historical background?

7. When did Americans begin to observe Martin Luther King's birthday for the first time?

8. What other holidays are important to Americans as a nation?

Lesson XIV. Education

Over 57 million students are "enrolled in American schools, which range from kindergartens to high schools, small colleges, large universities, as well as a variety of institutions for adult education and vocational training.

Americans place a high value on education for themselves and their children, and universal access to quality education has been one of the nation's historic

goals.

America's first college, Harvard, was founded in Massachusetts in 1636, and the second William and Mary, was established in Virginia in 1693.

Perhaps the most noteworthy feature about American education is the absence of a national administration or structure. Each of the 50 states controls and directs its own schools. Most states require that children attend school from the time they reach six or seven years old until they are 16 or 17. Public schools are managed by local communities, divided into about 15.500 state school districts.

What do American public schools teach?

There is uniform school organization or curriculum throughout the nation, but certain common features exist. Preschool education consists of nursery schools and kindergartens, although in recent years the latter is usually part of the elementary schools. Elementary and secondary schools together consist of 12 years of classes (not counting kindergarten) which meet for about 10 months a year, five days a week and five hours a day/Almost every elementary school curriculum includes English, mathematics, science, social studies, penmanship, music, art and physical education. Many include classes teaching basic computer skills. Most secondary schools have a "curriculum" of English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education as well as variety of elective subjects.

About 85 percent of American students attend public schools, which are supported by state and local taxes. The other 15 percent attend private schools, for which their families choose to pay special attendance fees. Four out of five American private schools are run by churches, synagogues or other religious groups.

In addition, schools have for many years received federal aid for special purposes, such as vocational training and school lunches. In 1965 Congress approved a major program of federal support for public schools, and federal aid was extended to private schools for the first time.

After graduating from secondary school, a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. American institutions of higher education include technical training schools, which offer programs in fields ranging from hairstyling to computer programming; community colleges, which provide two years of semiprofessional training for some students and the first two years of college for others; colleges, offering four-year bachelor degree programs; and universities, which contain one or more colleges and graduate schools offering master's or doctoral degree programs.

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