US Education System: Academic vs Trade Schools

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the structure of the US education system, particularly the comparison between academic and trade schools. Participants explore the merits and drawbacks of a system that separates students based on their educational pursuits, questioning the inclusivity of public education and the implications of such separation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why the US does not adopt an education system similar to China's, which they perceive as more meritocratic.
  • Others argue that public schools serve all members of society and provide mandatory education, regardless of academic inclination.
  • A participant shares their experience with vocational schools and honors programs, suggesting that such options exist within the current system.
  • Concerns are raised about how to determine who "deserves" to go to school, with some suggesting that discrimination based on intelligence could be problematic.
  • There is a discussion about the challenges of measuring intelligence fairly and the implications of labeling students for vocational versus academic paths.
  • Some participants propose that university serves as a natural separation point for those pursuing higher education, while others suggest earlier separation could be beneficial.
  • One participant mentions the existence of vocational programs that allow students to split their time between general education and specialized training.
  • There is a reference to the idea that many industrialized countries have compulsory education systems that could serve as a model for the US.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the structure of the education system, with no clear consensus on whether a separation between academic and trade schools is desirable or feasible. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to education and the implications of such separation.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various personal experiences with different educational settings, indicating that views on the effectiveness and fairness of the current system may depend on individual circumstances. There are also unresolved questions about the criteria for separating students based on academic pursuits.

  • #31
edpell said:
See public schools work.

Don't ask where the twenty trillion dollars went.

:smile:
 
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  • #32
Heh. All my Chinese friends wish the Chinese system was like America's (or England/etc. I'm sure, but they probably only express preference for the American system since I am from the States). There are a lot of problems inherent in the Chinese system. The emphasis on exams is astronomical and has a very long history of cultural significance. Students spend an inordinate amount of time and energy on the exams alone because one exam will define where you go for your middle school another for high school, etc.

Instead, the US system allows the schools to cater to different levels so that everyone can receive both a decent education but hopefully one that caters to their abilities. My schools had remedial programs for students who lagged behind, and a bevy of honor programs for those that excelled. In addition, there are multiple levels of higher education from vocational schools, junior colleges, college, and university.
 
  • #33
School is like everything else in a capitalist system "you get what you pay for". There are excellent schools in the US if you have the money Exeter, Choate, etc...
 
  • #34
ƒ(x) said:
It doesn't matter if your average citizen votes intelligently. Electoral votes count instead of popular.
This is a misunderstanding of how the electoral system works. And there are only two elected offices that it pertains to.
 
  • #35
jimmysnyder said:
This is a misunderstanding of how the electoral system works. And there are only two elected offices that it pertains to.

Which offices?
 
  • #36
ƒ(x) said:
Which offices?
President and Vice President of the US.
 
  • #37
Learn something new every day.
 
  • #38
ƒ(x) said:
While I am in high level classes, the environment at my current school is much different than that of my middle school, a change that I attribute to less academically oriented students.

edpell said:
School is like everything else in a capitalist system "you get what you pay for". There are excellent schools in the US if you have the money Exeter, Choate, etc...

There's middle ground here. I went to small private college prep schools throughout high school on grants and scholarships. Students from wealthy families who can pay full tuition aren't necessarily the more academically oriented ones so these schools are prone to cast a kind financial eye on academically sincere applicants of lower income to help maintain the school's reputation for producing higher caliber graduates.
 
  • #39
Born2bwire said:
Heh. All my Chinese friends wish the Chinese system was like America's (or England/etc. I'm sure, but they probably only express preference for the American system since I am from the States). There are a lot of problems inherent in the Chinese system. The emphasis on exams is astronomical and has a very long history of cultural significance. Students spend an inordinate amount of time and energy on the exams alone because one exam will define where you go for your middle school another for high school, etc.

Instead, the US system allows the schools to cater to different levels so that everyone can receive both a decent education but hopefully one that caters to their abilities. My schools had remedial programs for students who lagged behind, and a bevy of honor programs for those that excelled. In addition, there are multiple levels of higher education from vocational schools, junior colleges, college, and university.
Accurate description.
 

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