Structure and Content of School Education. Elementary schools.
There are 3 stages in the US educational system: elementary, secondary and higher education. Education is compulsory for every child of 6 up to the age of 16. In some states it is compulsory to the age of 17 (Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota and Pennsylvania) or even to the age of 18 (Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah).
School education is represented by:
8+4 system in many rural and small town schools – 8 years of elementary school and 4 years of high (secondary) school.
6+3+3 system (6 years of elementary school and 6 years of high schools subdivided into junior high and senior high).
In cities the elementary schools are usually in session for 5 hours daily, except Saturday and Sunday. Classes are often divided into A,B,C groups according to speed of learning. Almost every elementary school provides the instruction of the subjects: Mathematics, Language (Reading, Grammar, Composition and Literature), penmanship (the rules of writing), social studies (a subject that includes history, geography and economics), music, art and physical education. Religious teaching is officially not permitted, although the exercises of the day are often opened with a reading from the Bible and the singing of a hymn. Many Americans call the elementary school a “grammar school”.
Intermediate Education – the Junior High School.
The junior high school is a sort of half-way point between elementary and secondary education. It continues some elementary school subjects, but it also introduces courses in mathematics and science and usually gives students their first chance to study a foreign language. Beginning with the junior high school they have elective subjects. There also compulsory subjects but they are fewer in number than elective ones. To be promoted to a higher grade a student should get the necessary number of credits, even at the expense of elective subjects. If the student gets the necessary number of credits, he or she does not care for the rest of the subjects. In private schools they have more compulsory subjects and the number of credits is different.
Secondary Education – the Senior High School
Senior High School offers new courses in English composition and grammar, maths and economics, general science and civils. The more traditional courses are: English, foreign languages, maths, history and the sciences. On the other hand, vocational training courses include typing, shorthand, cooking and homeeconomics for girls; painting, photography and drawing for boys. Every student is required to participate in physical education.
The aims of the High School are to provide:
general education for all students;
subjects useful for those who will leave high school for employment or marriage;
necessary preparatory education for those planning to enter colleges and universities.
Nowadays many high schools reduce the number of elective subjects and lay more emphasis on the basic subjects.