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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Describe what the physical schools are like (layout etc), the education system, typical day in the life of a student, holidays, whether you wear school uniforms etc...
Here in Australia we have kindergarten (kindy), pre-school or pre-primary, 'primary school' and 'high school', although there are private schools that run from year 1 to year 12.
Most primary schools are composed of a collection of buildings - or 'blocks' of a few classrooms - and the canteen or tuck-shop is located outdoors. Kids eat outdoors, unlike in American schools, and spent a lot of time playing outside. Sports or PE is strongly emphasized - swimming lessons were compulsory. All primary school students wear uniforms to school: a polo shirt, shorts or a skirt, dress, or in winter, pants, a jumper. Although I've noticed a lot of girls don't wear skirts anymore and wear shorts instead.
Most primary school kids get 3 lots of 2 week holidays, and one long holidays in the summer (December-January).
Primary school goes up to either year 6 or year 7 depending on the state. In WA we call grades 'years', but I think NSW, Vic might call them 'grades' now. Each school year is composed of students born in the same calendar year, although that might be changing. There is no final exam in primary school. Most students are graded with a mark for each subject at the end of the year on their report.
High school goes from year 8 to year 12 (ages 13 to 17). High schools vary in structure: the newer ones are more like primary schools, but some of the older ones like the one I went to vaguely resemble American high school. My school, built in 1958, was basically built around two 'quandrangles' - large courtyards in the middle - with the classrooms encircling them. We had a separate oval, a small swimming pool, basketball courts, a gym.etc. The canteen was again in the courtyard so we ate outside.
We had to wear the school shirt, although we could wear any type of bottom we wanted. This was later changed so it had to be black. In years 8, 9 and 10 you do the standard subjects with two electives like electronics, woodwork, metalwork, home economics.etc, while in years 11 and 12 you choose the 5 or 6 subjects you want to study, although English and Maths are compulsory. At the end of year 12 students could elect to take their tertiary entrance examinations which would decide which courses they could get into.
The school day ran from roughly just before 9 to 3pm. I often ordered my lunch at the canteen, but sometimes brought a sandwich or whatever. The typical canteen fare included pies, pizza, chicken rolls, hot dogs, cheesies.etc.
Some fond memories of school include school 'sports carnival' held every year around September, where we'd compete in running, long jump, team sports.etc for our 'faction' (there were 4 factions). Going on 'excursions' to places like the aquarium, ice cream factory.etc.
While I was picked on a few time I wasn't really bullied, enjoyed playing a lot of sports at lunch time.etc, and had quite a few friends. I lived next door to my old primary school, so just walked across, while I either took the bus (normal bus, most schools don't have school buses here) or was dropped off at my high school.
We had a 'school ball' in year 12, which is like the American 'prom', which is a pretty big deal, although I didn't go to mine.
Sounds very similar to the American system. Many parents choose to send their children to preschool and kindergarten to get them used to the system early. High school ends at 18 years old. Federal law requires you to attend school until age 16.
Similar school day too.
There's a very large private school system in the US because the public schools typically underperform. Private schools range in cost widely, some go up to $25000 a year for high school! Though that's only in the rich areas. The suburbs tend ot have overperforming schools. This is because school monies come from local property taxes. Thus, the more expensive the property, the more money goes towards the schools.
No uniforms ever, unless you go to a private school. All public schools are determined by location ... instead of testing.
There's typically three levels of schooling starting in high school. Remedial, normal, and advanced. Advanced courses sometimes offer the ability to earn college credit, and many colleges have programs with local high schools to earn credit.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,043,908 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eskercurve
Sounds very similar to the American system. Many parents choose to send their children to preschool and kindergarten to get them used to the system early. High school ends at 18 years old. Federal law requires you to attend school until age 16.
Similar school day too.
There's a very large private school system in the US because the public schools typically underperform. Private schools range in cost widely, some go up to $25000 a year for high school! Though that's only in the rich areas. The suburbs tend ot have overperforming schools. This is because school monies come from local property taxes. Thus, the more expensive the property, the more money goes towards the schools.
No uniforms ever, unless you go to a private school. All public schools are determined by location ... instead of testing.
There's typically three levels of schooling starting in high school. Remedial, normal, and advanced. Advanced courses sometimes offer the ability to earn college credit, and many colleges have programs with local high schools to earn credit.
I think in other states year 12 is the year you turn 18 here, although it's the year you turn 17 year. The school year begins around the start of February and ends in mid December.
Here most private schools are religious, is that the case in the US? Fees range from as low as $4000 a year for some of the Catholic/Baptist colleges, to as high as $30,000 for some of the most prestigious in the country, such as the King's School in Sydney. I think in Perth some are as high as $15,000, and many of these are over 100 years old.
We don't have 'junior high school' or 'middle school' here, either, seems strange there's a separate school for just a few years!
Pre-school education in Russia - education, training and development, as well as the care, treatment and recuperation of children of pre-school age from 2 months to 7 years. This is a children's gardens and preparatory pre-school. So, too, is the state free of charge and there are paid private.School education is an important element of education in modern society that shapes the child the basic knowledge and skills. Every man of about ten years in high school. In each grade in each subject there is a tutorial. Sometimes one and the same textbook is used in several classes of high school. (For example, from 9 to 11 class). The number of days, when the student learns, depends on the Charter school.(Also there are state free of charge, and private fee-paying schools) Schools. in Russia give students the so-called secondary education. School, giving only the standard course in General education, referred to as simply «secondary schools», and schools, giving in-depth knowledge in their disciplines, or are introducing, in addition to the required course of their own discipline, can be called in a different way («school with the profound studying of subjects», «school», «high school»).
At the present time a full course of study at the Russian school is 11 years.
I stage (primary General education) - 4 years;
Stage II (General secondary education) - 5-6 years;
III stage (secondary (complete) General education) - 2 years.
In the modern rules of the 1 class of accepted students, who in the year of admission (there is a calendar, but not the academic year) turns seven years. Thus, at the time of receipt in the first class the student is usually from 6 to 8 years.
Primary school takes 4 years - from the 1st to the 4th class. Its task is to give the minimum base set of knowledge and skills necessary for life and any work: reading, minimally competent letter, elementary mathematics, the initial labour training. In addition to this are the overall development of the activities: music, physical training, sometimes choreography, art, there is the subject of «the world», on which the disciples simply tell all, with what they may encounter in life. From the second class, in all schools teaching a foreign language .For class in primary school is assigned a teacher, who is responsible for the class and leads almost all subjects (except for physical training and music). The class has one of his own room, where all the lessons, except those for which a special premises or equipment. The number of lessons is usually no more than four a day. In the first class with 1995 for pupils to five days a week.
Primary school
In the course of five years, from 5-th to 9-th class, the students are studying in the primary school. The main course of secondary school gives you a basic knowledge on the main directions of Sciences. In the primary school the training is conducted according to a standard domain-Cabinet system: each training course leads teacher - specialist in the discipline, of her own office, and the class during the school day passed from office to office. In addition, the class is assigned a class leader is one of the school teachers (not necessarily leading to this class of any lessons, and in some schools excepted from the educational work in General), which is officially responsible for the class, decides administrative and organizational issues associated with teaching the class as a whole and of his disciples.
The total number of the surveyed in the main school disciplines - about two dozen. Among them are: algebra, geometry, physics, inorganic chemistry, biology, Russian language, literature, history, geography, foreign language, music, labour training, physical training and other Sciences. Teaching load is on average six lessons a day.
At the end of primary school, students sit the State (final) assessment (GIA) : algebra, English language and two more by choice (under the «surrender» as is understood as the result of receiving a mark of not less than «satisfactory»). According to the results of education issued a document - the Certificate about the basic General education - confirming the fact of learning and containing estimates for all studied disciplines. Upon completion of the basic school of students remain in school and goes to high school, the part goes to study in secondary special educational institutions.Senior classes
The main purpose of the senior classes of preparation for receipt in high school. In Russia it is the last two years training.10 class and 11 class.
The training course included the further study of the part of the subjects studied earlier in basic school, as well as a small number of new disciplines. At the present time is another attempt to move in the senior classes on the profile education, when the student selects the direction of a more profound studying of subjects, on the basis of their own inclinations. The set of possible profiles of training provided by the school, can vary. In addition to General subjects is introduced basic military training (NVP) considered as preparing students for service in the army. This subject are usually retired military men, it can be a special day in the training week. Teaching load in the senior classes of up to seven lessons a day.
Upon completion of the training students pass the Unified state examination (EGE). Students are obliged to pass the math and the Russian language. Surrender for other examinations is voluntary, the students choose, as a rule, the items which are required for admission to the chosen University.
Before the introduction of unified state examination (2009) graduates of the senior stage, received in all subjects of the semi-annual, annual and exam marks «excellent», was awarded the gold medal [1], and having a «good» mark - silver [1], and medals relied privileges at receipt in high school in the traditional form. With the introduction of the use of these benefits have lost the sense and were cancelled. Issuance of medals still be allowed (and practiced in reality), but only in respect of non-pecuniary incentives.
Successfully finished the last stage of training receives the Certificate about the average (full) General education - a document confirming the receipt of knowledge in the volume of state standard. In the certificate shall specify the final grades for all studied subjects. The school itself is a different knowledge of one or with many buildings and sports halls. Lessons are usually go for 40 - 50 minutes, between them change from 5 to 15 minutes. In high school can be a lesson last for one academic hour 1 hour 20 minutes but it is mostly the same as in the elementary school. There is a dining room, buffet. Outwardly little different from American schools. The USSR was a school form is obligatory, in Russia, in some schools, but mostly in private.Sports objects are held in the sports halls, and on the streets at special sites.
Last edited by GreyKarast; 06-22-2012 at 04:16 AM..
Nursery, Reception, Primary School and High School.
Primary school runs from Year 1 to Year 6 while High School runs from Year 7 to Year 11, and then after High School you can stay on for 'Sixth Form' which is Year 12 and Year 13 IIRC.
The law changed recently meaning that this years Year 11's have to stay in some form of education until they are 18, before you could automatically leave high school in Year 11 and go work without going to college or anything.
Most schools in the country have summer holidays running from mid July to early September, in Scotland though I believe they leave in June.
Add. In schools is not a semester, quarter-first, second, third and fourth between them holidays. Holidays this week. The big this summer 2.5 months or 3 depending on the class. Winter 2 weeks sometimes for a few days more if holidays coincide with holidays.
play school is optional and is for three to four year olds
primary school lasts for eight years , apart from state holidays , students are off at christmas from 23 december to seventh of january , easter is around eleven days , summer holidays are the longest in europe from around the third week in june to the 1st of september
the school day is from 9.15 am to 3 pm with a 15 min break at 11 and a half an hour from 1 to 1.30
PE is an hour each week
the average class size in primary school is around 20 pupils but this varies wideley from urban to rural areas
secondary school is five years with a state examination after three years known as the junior cert and a final state exam after five years known as the leaving cert , we dont have continous examination like in the usa , thier are only two exams in the entire five years which count for anything and in reality the second one is the only one which matters a whole lot
school day is from 9 am to 3.30 , holidays are the same as primary school bar summer where students are off for a full three months from the 1st of june to the 1st of september , teachers in ireland are the highest paid in the EU and work the least number of days
Americans get relatively little time off school during the actual school year so that's made up by the long summer holidays, while here in the UK we get a lot of time off during the school year, and lots of 'half terms', so our summer holidays are shorter.
The school system in Canada (except for Quebec, which I will describe in another post), is quite similar to that of the U.S., with some differences.
There is generally no public educational or child care structure of any kind before the age of 4 or 5. Private preschools do exist of course but only a small minority of kids attend them.
Depending on the province, city and school board you are in, they may start pre-kindergarten at 4 or kindergarten at 5. Attendance is generally not mandatory at this age but pretty much all of the kids go anyway.
Elementary school starts at Grade 1 when most kids are 6. Physical education is mandatory pretty much everywhere I am sure. The second language taught in English-language schools is of course French.
Elementary generally runs to Grade 6-8 and most kids are 12-14 when they finish. I find there is no hard and fast rule as to when elementary ends and secondary begins in Canada, and sometimes in the same city and same school board you can have elementary schools that go to Grade 6 and other go to Grade 8.
In any event, secondary (high) school starts either in Grade 7 or 9, though usually if they start in Grade 7, the Grade 7 and 8 kids are often isolated in their own section of the building from the older kids.
High school always ends at Grade 12 and most kids are 18 (sometimes 17) when they graduate.
High school in Canada is similar to the States but is not so rah-rah-rah “be true to your school!” as it is in the U.S.
Sports are still very present, both intramural and extramural, as are other activities outside the educational program that could be called extra-curricular.
The school year for both elementary and secondary generally starts in the last week of August or first week of September. There are only two long breaks during the year: approx. two weeks at Christmas and one week “March” break in, you guessed it, March.
The school year generally ends around June 25 and students get a minimum of two solid months of summer holidays. Sometimes it is 9 weeks.
Going to private school is not unheard of but not that common either. In elementary, the vast majority of kids go to public schools, including most kids from upper class families. There is some siphoning off of kids to private schools at the secondary level, although even there a majority of upper class families probably still send their kids to public schools. In many smaller cities in Canada private schools are quite rare. Private schools are more common in the larger cities but even there, well-off families don’t necessarily all flock to them.
One particularity about Canada is that there are “French immersion” schools all across “English Canada”. These are public schools run in English (administration, communications with parents) but where the teaching language for all subjects (math, science, history, phys ed) is French. The only exception of course is teaching of the English language itself. The idea is to give Anglo kids a good opportunity to learn French by immersing them in it. Language-wise, the results have been mixed but generally kids who went to these schools tend to perform well later on in life. Not sure if it is because they went to immersion schools or if it is because there is natural selection of stronger students taking place because learning everything in a language you don’t know is pretty tough sledding – at least at first.
All of the other English Canadian schools (non-immersion) teach French similarly to how they teach Spanish in American public schools.
School attendance is generally legally mandatory until age 16.
Canadian school boards employ the big yellow school buses that non-North Americans have seen in the movies. Some kids use them, others walk. It varies. In high school in the largest cities it is not uncommon for kids to travel to and from school on public transit.
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