School History in the USA (Focus Public School) and if the System should be Reformed
School is a big part of our life even though we don’t want it to be. But what did school look like 200 or 300 years ago, how is it compared to other countries and is it time to reform school because times have changed?
New England:
The first schools opened in the thirteen original colonies in the 17th century. They tried to educate the children by the traditional English methods of community, family, church and apprenticeship. In the 18th century those “common schools” were established, and family members had to pay “rate bills’’ for their children’s education. In the larger towns of New England, they opened the so-called “grammar schools” (High schools near). By the 1780s most schools had been replaced by private academies.
The South:
In the late 17th century Maryland operated some schools for catholic students. But most children were taught at home or in a private school.
General:
At this time most boys went to school. It wasn’t usual for girls to go to school. They kept home and learnt how to cook or clean. Tax-supported schooling for girls began in 1767 in New England.
How do other school systems work?
An example is Germany:
In Germany you go to school when you are 5 or 6 years old. You go to elementary school for 4 years. After the 4th grade you decide on what different kind of school you want to go to. Your decision depends on what type of graduation you want, and how good you are in school. There are five different kinds of schools. The easiest one is the “Hauptschule” where you go until 10th grade. After that you can go into an apprenticeship, but you cannot study. The next ones are the “Gesamtschule”, “Sekunddarschule” and the “Realschule” . You go there for ten years too and have the same opportunities after it. You could go to a different kind of school after, an example is a “Berufskolleg” where you can make you “Fachabitur” (The second highest graduation) and study in the kind of theme you made it, or you can go to a “Gymnasium” which you can also attend since 5th grade and make your “Abitur” (The highest graduation) and study whatever you want (If your grades are good enough). When you attend this school before 10th grade to make your "Abitur", you only must go 12 years to school in total. If you come from another school to do your "Abitur" after 10th grade you must repeat 10th grade, so you go 13 years to school and you must do a test. You can do your “Abitur” at a “Gesamtschule” too, but it is 13 years then and you must do a test too before you can. Sounds complicated, but it is easier for people who are not good in school because of the different learning levels each school offers. A big difference to the US is that you are not allowed to study at home (Except the Covid situation). You must go to a school until you are 18 or finished 10th grade.
School reformation?
The school system didn’t really change over the years, but our time did. How people expect you to work, how the government works. Is it time to reform the schools?
I think yes. Maybe not everything and not all at the same time. But we could start with different subjects. Subjects that include how to start a business or how to live by yourself. Maybe even about different cultures. But not only subjects, what about the people who are smart but fail in every test because they get nervous while writing them? It’s hard to reform a whole system but there are many things that should change.
What do you think, should school be reformed?
If yes, what would you change and if not, why would you not change it?
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_the_United_States
https://www.facinghistory.org/books-borrowing/school-story-american-public-education
Replies
Tatjana,
Interesting topic! I do think focusing more on the differences between German schools and US schools would have been a better topic for this space along with a title that focused on that. Starting off with the history of education in the US along with your title just didn't bring students in. Good job job replying to people!
I think that schools should keep the basic materials like math and science, and possibly English. Those are skills that can be used in different careers that you may want to pursue later on in life. At the same time, I do believe that there should be optional schools that center around a certain career or focus on careers that are somewhat the same. For example, if a student would like a career in the medical field, there could be a school that focuses on offering simple medical classes, as well as math, science, and English classes (like grammatical or literature classes). The same could be applied for other careers.
I like your idea of a diffrent school. In Germany that's actually possible. After 10th grade you can change the school to a "Berufskolleg" you can graduate and study after it. But while you on that school you can graduate in a specific field for example pedagogy but you still have those basic subjects. That makes it easier for you to get into the university you want to go (As long you sign up for what you graduated in).
I think school does need reformed. I'm not sure what I would want to happen but I feel like there are too many kids that get away with failing. Those kids hold back the kids who do want to be at school and do well at school. As a kid who typically goes above average I am often bored in school because I already understand everything. That should not be an issue.
But aren't there, for example college classes, you can take when the normal school subjects are too easy for you?
I think we should still have our basic standards but also, like you said, more classes that teach kids how to live on their own when they graduate. Yes, parents are usually there to help with that but not everyone has the same guidance in their home as others. With that being said, I think the school should be reformed. They should add more financial guidance and logical stuff that you need when you're living on your own but the current standards are still important.
I agree. Basics like math or english should still be teached but time changes so do people and the world. Schools should also modernize but that is a diffrent topic.