Hard school- any disadvantage?

Watson_amp_Crick
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:03:19 +0000

In europe, the coursework tend to be more advanced, both in math and the liberal arts (I omitted the sciences because I still haven’t experienced enough of the US HS science to make a very accurate appraisal). Thus, when going to college, very few people are “undecided” and most (90-95%) have a very definite career objective.

Here is a distinction I want to point out. The HS system in Europe makes a very sharp break from middle school. In the US, such a break is much milder. People who go to HS in EU have an almost definite goal to go to college. If they don’t, they usually drop out after a “Brevet” at the end of middle school, and go to a professional/technical HS.

This somewhat “elitist” HS system promotes higher level of learning, and permits greater exposure to fields we are interested in. Besides, the two last year of HS (at least in France), you choose a form of your baccalaureate. I think the options are science, economic sciences, literature and another one I don’t remember. This permits exposure to a field that you might want to pursue in college, and permits you to make “educated choices”

Those specializations are very mild and flexible. A literature emphasis still requires an equivalent of Calc BC, while a science emphasis still requires a philosophy course. However, the difference lies mainly in how weighed are each subject when you pass the final examination at the baccalaureate.

Disclaimer: I do not know if such a system is possible in the US, especially when I see so many students in my HS slacking off or being unmotivated. However, I do feel that a there should be a somewhat higher national standard, with more emphasis on critical thinking, written skills, and mature thoughts. To me, the SAT is the symbol of the test-taking attitude I dislike the US.