Unit 12
Education in the US and Britain
The formal education in the United States differed from education systems of other Western societies in three fundamental respects. First, Americans were more inclined to regard education as a solution to various social problems. Second, because they had this confidence in the power of education, Americans provided more years of schooling for a larger percentage of the population than other countries. Third, education institutions were primarily governed by local authorities rather than by federal ones. The most notable characteristic of the American education system is the large number of people it serves. Expanding access to college education is a priority for the US government. In 1997 President Clinton called for creating a new policy to enable virtually every high school graduate to receive some form of college education.
Since the 1980s, education policymakers have given greater attention and funding to improve the quality of education in nonschool settings. For example, educators view the family as perhaps the most powerful educational force, and schools have increased education programs designed specifically for parents. Museums have also given greater attention to their instructional role. "Sesame Street" for children, created in the 1960s, was an early demonstration of how television could advance rather than retard educational values.
Compared to the United States, fewer people go on to higher education in Britain, and there is more emphasis on segregating pupils at the lower level on the basis of ability. National tests at the ages of 7, 11, and 14 assess students' progress. At 16, prior to leaving school, students are tested in various subjects to earn a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). If they wish to go on to higher education at a university, they take Advanced Level examinations, commonly known as "A" Levels.
The most famous schools in Britain are private boarding schools, such as Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, and Winchester School. Many of Britain's leaders have attended these private schools, which cater to the wealthy and influential but also offer some scholarships to gifted poorer children.
Britain has over 90 universities, which can be divided into several categories. The foremost universities are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The term Oxbridge s used to refer to both schools as a single entity, much as Americans would use the term Ivy League in reference to the group of prestigious East Coast universities. |