A 23. New York

is the most populous city in the United States[9] and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.[10][11][12] New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters,[13] New York is an important center for international affairs and is widely deemed the cultural capital of the world.

New York City is a popular place, receiving nearly 50 million tourists annually. People travel from around the world to visit the unofficial capital of North America, resplendent in cosmopolitan lifestyle and a culture as equally diverse as its rich social and political history.

Two million of tourists go on to visit one of New York Harbour's most recognisable sites - Ellis Island.

Ellis Island, situated on the Hudson River, operated as an immigration station from 1892 until 1954. The island served as a colonial outpost, a wartime stronghold and an ammunition depot until, in 1892, it was converted into a receiving station for the country's immigrant population.

Immigrants were now to be transitioned through Ellis, which was a larger compound.

Immigration procedures enabled health officials to determine who was suitable to enter the United States the process only took some two to five hours, leaving many free to enter America in relatively little time compared to that of their arduous journey from the corners of the globe.

Immigrants came from Asia, Europe and Russia, mixing faiths, religions and cultures interminably. As a result, almost half of all Americans can trace their family back to a relative who entered via the Port of New York Authority on Ellis Island. Famous names that passed through the Grand Hall include opera tenor Enrico Caruso, entertainer Bob Hope, film maker Frank Capra, actress Claudette Colbert, cosmetologist Max Factor and physicist Albert Einstein.

While millions of immigrants were shipped to the States through Ellis every year, nowadays, millions of tourists choose to take flights to New York and continue to visit Ellis Island, every year.

philadelphia a city of firsts

While almost all cities lay claim to their share of "firsts", no U.S. city can claim as many as Philadelphia.

One of the oldest cities in the United States, Philadelphia was founded by William Penn in 1682 and laid out in a simple grid pattern that included wide streets and five public squares. In that respect, Philadelphia was the first "planned city" in North America.

While it would be impossible to list all of Philadelphia's "firsts" in a single article, it's well worth while to look at a sample of some of the most interesting ones.

• Philadelphia is home to the nation's first public grammar school, now known as the William Penn Charter School, founded in 1689.

• America's first life insurance company, The Presbyterian Minister's Fund, was opened in Philadelphia in 1717.

• America's first botanical garden, Bartram's Gardens, opened in 1728.

• Philadelphia is home to the nation's first public library - the Free Library of Philadelphia - founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731.

• The first volunteer fire department, the Union Fire Company, was founded in Philadelphia in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin.

• The Pennsylvania Hospital, founded by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, opened its doors in 1751 - the first hospital in America. In addition, Philadelphia is home to the nation's first medical school, first children's hospital, first cancer hospital, first eye hospital, first nursing school and first dental school!

• The concept of lightning being electricity was discovered by Benjamin Franklin in 1752 when he was able to draw lightning from the clouds by means of a kite.

• The first flag of the United States was sewn in Philadelphia in 1777 by Betsy Ross.

• The first university in America, the University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1779, traces its roots to a tuition-free school founded in 1740.

• The Pennsylvania Bank, the first American public bank, opened in 1780. It was later renamed the Bank of North America, the first incorporated bank chartered by the Continental Congress.

• Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States from 1790 - 1800.

• The first stock exchange in the United States was the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, which organized in 1790.

• The first mint in the United States opened in Philadelphia in 1792. For the first time standardized coins were issued for the new nation.

• The first municipal water system in the country, the Philadelphia Water Works, began operation in 1799.

• The first art school and art museum in America, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, was founded in Philadelphia in 1805.

• The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, organized in 1827, is the oldest continually operating horticultural society in the United States. The Philadelphia Flower Show, first held in 1829 and sponsored by the Society, was the first large flower show in the country.

• In 1874 the Philadelphia Zoo became the first zoo to open in the United States.

• The first World's Fair held in the new world was held in Philadelphia in 1876 to mark the centennial of the United States.

• The PSFS Building in downtown Philadelphia became the nation's first modern skyscraper (notably fully air-conditioned) when it opened its doors in 1932.

• The world's first computer, ENIAC, was built at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.

We've only just sampled a few of the many "firsts" which have occurred in Philadelphia. If you have one that you'd like to add to our list, post it in our Philadelphia Forum and we'll add it to our list for a possible sequel to this feature.

24 The US educational system is very decentralized and schools vary greatly from state to state. There are three levels of subsidizing of education: federal, state and local. They subsidize 3-5 per cent on a federal level, around 20 per cent on a state level and 70-80 per cent on a local level.

School education in the United States is free and parents are free to choose a school for their children. There are also a lot of private schools, mainly religious, and parents have to pay for them.

There is no home education in the United States. Each invalid is supposed to attend school. School provides all the necessary conditions for them to study.

The school system structure in the United States looks like this. Children start going to school at the age of five. First they go to eight-year elementary school and then to high school or if they go to five- or six-year elementary school, they then attend three- or four-year middle school, and then high school.

Teenagers study at high school four years and graduate from it at the age of eighteen.

The completion of high school is called graduation. Over 60% of school graduates continue their education in two- or four-year colleges or universities. At least 10% of high school students are allowed to finish school at the age of 16.

American institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, community colleges; and universities which contain one or more colleges and graduate schools offering master’s or doctoral degree programmes.

U.S. colleges and universities offer a vide variety of programs ranging from highly academic courses to very practical ones. After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education. The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic programme. It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, Natural sciences, Modern languages, History or Physical education. After the first two years every student can select subjects according to his professional interest.

The National Government gives no direct financial aid to the institutions of higher education. Students must pay a tuition fee. This creates a finantial hardship for some people. Many of the students have to work to pay their expenses

Students can be educated not only for academic professions, but also for technical professions, such as mechanics, nursing, medical technology, computer technology and book-keeping. In universities young people study four years to get bachelor’s degree. If one wants to get master’s degree he/she must study two years more and do a research work. If one has master’s degree, studies more, does a research work and passes an oral, comprehensive examination he/she gets doctor’s degree (PhD).