3.School education in the usa:pros and cons.

American believe that every citizen has both the right and the obligation to become educated. In order to develop an educated population,all states have compulsory school attendance laws which require formal schooling begin by the age 6 and continue until at least age 16. However most Americans attend school at least until high school graduation when they are 17\18 years old.

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

There is Early School Education in the USA,it means that by the age of 5, 87 % of American children attend school,most of them in pre-academic classes are called Kindergartens. However many Amercan 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 programs offer all-day care for the children of working parents. Free public education begins with Kindergarten classes for 5-year olds. The primary purpose is socialization with gaining some skills and information (identifying colours, counting,listening to stories). After Kindergarten children begin their academic studies. Schooling is devided into 12 grades ( years). Academic work begins when children enter 1st degree ,at about age 6. The first academic institution is called elementary school or grammar school. It lasts toll the 8th grade. The next 4 years are called high school. In some school systems there is junior high school which includes grades 6 to 8.

If to analyse American school system it is possible to define positive and negative features. So positive ones that there is a diversity in school system. There are different types of schools and innovated approach. The broad scope of curriculum, decentralization, bilingual education for those,who don’t know English. American high schools have a dual commitement of high school, AP(advanced placement) courses, a tracking system. There is practical schooling included into the educational system and the introduction of “ The no child left behind act”.

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