The current education system in the United States embodies the characteristics of unity and diversity. There is no unified national education system in the United States, and the education systems in various States are diverse. Generally speaking, it includes four stages: preschool education, primary education, secondary education and higher education. The current academic system in the United States is basically: primary education and secondary education 12 years, higher education for 4 years, and postgraduate education for 2-4 years. Children usually go to primary school at the age of six.
Preschool education in the United States starts from the sixth week of children until they are five years old, and they begin to study in large classes in kindergartens in China. Before the age of 3, the school is generally responsible for life care. From the age of 3, teachers should lead children to do some games and other activities, and teach some simple knowledge, such as spelling words, to prepare for primary school.
Educational expenses in the United States
Children in the United States have implemented free and compulsory education since they were five years old. Students are free of all fees during their school days, including textbooks, exercise books, pens and school buses.
A large part of American education funds come from property taxes. American citizens have to pay property tax when buying a house in the school district, and part of the property tax is the cost of education. The property tax in a good school district is relatively high, so many Americans move out of this place after their children graduate and move to a place with lower property tax.
All schools in the United States have special institutions to communicate with parents, and the relationship between parents and schools is very close. There are two parent-teacher conferences a year. Parents and teachers communicate alone for half an hour. Students tell their parents about their year, and the teacher will further introduce the situation.
Basic education in the United States
Basic education in the United States is very different from that in China. Generally, there are no more than 20 students in each class. There are bookshelves in the classrooms of primary school 1-5 grades. There are many toys and objects on the bookshelves, such as small dinosaurs and birds, which are like a toy room at home. There are no rows of desks and chairs in the classroom, only scattered small tables, so the learning atmosphere is very relaxed, free and unrestrained.
The first 30 minutes after students arrive at school are mainly free time. Students can choose what they like to do, such as playing chess, reading, surfing the Internet and playing games.
Primary schools in the United States mainly offer new words, mathematics, handicrafts, physical education, music and special research courses, most of which are in the form of entertaining. Except music, physical education, handicrafts and fine arts, all courses from Chinese, mathematics to nature are taught by one teacher, which helps teachers to fully understand students' abilities and enhance the relationship between teachers and students. Students' special research courses are very important. The main purpose of this course is to let students choose a topic, use the library and the Internet to collect information, and finally introduce their own achievements and opinions in class. This teaching method not only cultivates students' ability to concentrate on things, but also cultivates students' ability to use materials independently and express themselves in public. Therefore, through this kind of training since childhood, there are few students with stage fright.
American teachers and parents
Teachers in America are generally well-paid and dedicated. Teachers mainly encourage students, so teachers never compare students' grades horizontally, do not disclose students' grades, and rarely take exams. Generally, every student is checked before each semester, and then at the end of the semester, the progress of students is compared vertically, so the pressure on students is relatively small. For some gifted students, some states can enter gifted classes through formal examinations. However, considering the all-round development of children, most parents in the United States generally do not encourage advanced placement.
Student pressure in the United States
In the United States, students in primary schools and junior high schools are under little pressure, but students in senior high schools are under great pressure to study, because some students have to do some simple work in senior high schools to get into good universities.
Because American students enter junior high school and senior high school not through exams, but strictly according to school districts, there is no distinction between key schools and non-key schools (some school districts have better teachers, but the overall difference is not big), so teachers often pay attention to the cultivation of students' quality. Students also don't think much about other people's opinions.
Usually, parents can talk to the teacher directly if they have any questions about the school, and the curriculum is decided after consultation between the school and parents. Moreover, parents can go to school to help teachers volunteer after special training, either in stages or all day.