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10. School Education in the USA: pros & cons.

Americans believe that every citizen has both the right & the obligation to become educated in order develop an educated population, all states have compulsory school attendance laws which require formal schooling begin by the age of 6 & continue until at least 16 y/o. However most Americans attend school at least until high school graduation when they are 17-18 y/o.

Most American children receive their elementary & high school education in the public schools. These schools are supported by taxes & do not charge tuition. In general they are neighbourhood schools, open to all students who live within the district. Boys & girls attend the same schools & have classes together. Public schools follow some state guidelines regarding for instance curriculum & teacher qualifications. But these schools are controlled locally; each district school is run by an elected Board of Education & the school administrators that the Board hires. Public schools are secular, so children of many different religions feel comfortable attending these schools. Thus public schools help a diverse population build a common culture. There are also private schools, which may be of 2 types: parochial (supported by a particular religious group) & secular. Private schools are not under direct public control, although some states set educational standards for them. To attend such a school a student must apply & be accepted.

In the USA exists Early Childhood Education, which means that by the age of 5 87% of American children attend school, most of them in pre-academic classes, called kindergartens. However many American youngsters attend school before the age of 5 through nursery schools or day care attendance. Nursery schools accept children from 3 to 5 for half day sessions from 2 to 5 days a week. Day care programmes offer all-day care for the children of the working parents. Free public education begins with kindergarten classes for 5-year olds. Its primary purpose is socialization with gaining some skills & information (identifying colours, counting, listening to stories).

After kindergarten children begin their academic studies. Schooling is divided into 12 grades (years). Academic work- three Rs –begin when children enter 1^st grade. The first academic institution is called elementary school or grammar school, which lasts till the 8^th grade. The next 4 years are called high school. In some school systems there is junior high school which includes grades 6 through 8.

If to analyse the American school system it is possible to define its positive & negative features. Among positive ones we may name diversity in school system, as there are different types of schools & innovated approach. The broad scope of curriculum, decentralization, bilingual education for those who don’t know English. Dual commitment of high school, ap courses, a tracking system. There is practical schooling included into the educational system & the introduction of the “no child left behind act”.

But as I’ve mentioned there are also minuses. Among them are: low academic performance, problems with discipline, unqualified teachers, tuition & discrimination.