Group discussion questions:

1.​ Write the names of your group’s members

2.​ Create questions for your assigned reading parts
3.​ Answer questions of other groups
4.​ Research about the discussion questions

1.​Review the education system and exams based on age in

the US UK (make a table)
USUK Masters: GRE, GMAT, English Certifications for
international students: IELTS, TOELF

In the US:
-​ Standardized tests are common, with the SAT and ACT
being key exams for college admission.
 -​ State achievement tests may be required for schools to
receive federal funding.
​ In the UK:
-​ SATs are taken at the end of Elementary school
-​ GCSEs are taken at the end of High school
-​ A Levels are usually taken after GCSEs, often required for
university admission.

2.​List some terms for educational institutions in the US and its

definition (review comparisons to the UK)

In the US:
​Traditional public school: Government-funded schools
typically operated by local school districts.
​Charter school: Publicly funded schools operated
independently, often with a specific educational focus or
approach.
​Magnet school: Public schools with specialized curricula or
programs aimed at attracting students from diverse
backgrounds.
​Virtual or Online school: Educational institutions where
students receive instruction primarily or entirely through
online platforms.
​Traditional private school: Privately funded schools typically
operated by non-governmental organizations or individuals.
​Boarding school: Schools where students reside on campus
during the academic term.
​Language immersion school: Schools where instruction is
primarily conducted in a language other than English to
promote bilingualism or multilingualism.
​Montessori school: Educational approach based on the
philosophy of Maria Montessori, emphasizing
student-centered learning and mixed-age classrooms.
​Private special education school: Schools specializing in
providing education and support services for students with
special needs or disabilities.
​Parochial school: Private schools affiliated with a particular
religious denomination, often providing religious instruction
alongside academic curriculum.
​Religious school: Schools with a religious focus, typically
associated with a specific faith or denomination.
​Reggio Emilia school: Educational approach inspired by the
Reggio Emilia philosophy, emphasizing child-led and
experiential learning.
​Waldorf school: Schools based on the educational
philosophy of Waldorf, emphasizing holistic development,
arts, and imagination.

While in the UK:

State Schools:
​Academies: Independent state-funded schools, often with
more control over their curriculum, finances, and staffing.
​Free schools: State-funded schools set up by parents,
teachers, charities, or businesses, with more autonomy over
their operations.
​Community schools: State-funded schools managed by local
authorities and often serving the local community.
​Voluntary-aided and controlled schools: State-funded
schools with a religious affiliation, either controlled by a
religious body (voluntary-controlled) or with substantial
influence from the religious organization (voluntary-aided).
​Grammar schools: Selective state-funded schools admitting
students based on academic ability through an entrance
exam.
​Comprehensive schools: Non-selective state-funded schools
that aim to provide education for all students regardless of
ability.
​Faith schools: State-funded schools with a religious
character, often associated with a particular faith or
denomination.

Other State Schools:

​Specialist schools: State-funded schools with a focus on a
particular subject area, such as arts, science, or technology.
​Pupil referral units: Schools providing education and support
for students who cannot attend a mainstream school due to
behavioral issues or other challenges.
​Special schools: State-funded schools catering specifically
to students with special educational needs or disabilities.

Independent Sector:
​Independent schools/public schools/private schools: Schools
not funded or maintained by the government, often charging
fees for attendance.
​Montessori schools: Schools following the educational
approach developed by Maria Montessori, emphasizing
self-directed learning and hands-on activities.
 ​Steiner Waldorf Schools: Schools based on the educational
philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, focusing on holistic
development and creativity.

Public schools / Private schools / State schools / Independent

schools UK vs US

Private schools - almost similar in the two systems

State schools - UK - governed by the UK government
State schools - US - governed by the state
Public schools - US - governed by local, state, federal
governments in general - public school system
Public schools - UK - open to the public - independent private
schools - prestigious, elite - long history, tradition, notable alumni
- Elon College, Harrow School, Winchester college

Independent schools - not governed by the government, have

their own structure. - UK - can by public schools / US - can be
chartered / religious schools.
Staff: "Headmaster" (UK) vs. "Principal" (US)

3.​Name some famous universities and universities systems,

what majors are the universities most famous for?
Ivy League:
Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth
College, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of
Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

Ivy League:
 a.​Brown University: Known for its strong programs in the
liberal arts, particularly in fields such as English, history,
and political science.
b.​Columbia University: Renowned for its programs in
journalism, business, law, and engineering.
c.​ Cornell University: Known for its prestigious programs in
agriculture and life sciences, as well as hotel administration
and veterinary medicine.
d.​Dartmouth College: Known for its strong undergraduate
programs in the liberal arts, as well as its business and
engineering programs.
e.​Harvard University: Renowned for its programs in law,
business, medicine, and public policy, as well as its strong
liberal arts curriculum.
f.​ Princeton University: Known for its strong programs in
mathematics, engineering, economics, and public policy.
g.​University of Pennsylvania: Renowned for its programs in
business, law, medicine, and engineering, as well as its
strong liberal arts curriculum.
h.​Yale University: Known for its strong programs in law,
medicine, drama, art, and history.

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): Famous for its programs

in engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physical
sciences.

University of California system: Known for its breadth and depth of

programs across various fields, including engineering, computer
science, biological sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Campuses like UC Berkeley are particularly renowned for their
programs in engineering, computer science, and business.
California State University system: Known for its focus on
undergraduate education and offering a wide range of majors across
disciplines such as business, education, health sciences, and the arts.

4.​What are the guiding ideals of US education? About Access

to education?

The guiding ideals of US education are:

​Access to Education
​Universal Literacy
​Equal opportunity
​Local Control
​Parental Involvement
​Local Control
​Analysis and Synthesis
​Well-rounded People

About Access to Education, the US system encourages people to

access as much education as possible. It has no standardized tests
whose outcomes consistently bar students from advancing to higher
education levels. However, this does not imply that everyone has an
equal chance of getting into Harvard, Stanford, etc.; Admission to
these universities is often limited to the best students intellectually.
Less skilled students can typically enroll in lower-tier postsecondary
schools.

1.​What are the main educational concerns in the US?

(compare it with the matters in the UK)
First, financial support is a hot issue in America. There are always
people who believe schools should get more public money than they
do and others who think schools receive enough funding, if not too
much. Even in times of economic slowdown, the debates are almost
constant.

Second, assessing the quality of educational institutions is another

persistent issue. People can’t evaluate exactly whether individual
teachers and schools are doing a good job, so it continues to worry
the governments.

Finally, at the primary and secondary level, there is often heated

debate about the quality of textbooks. Some people are concerned
about the accuracy of the facts in books. Others pay attention to
whether textbooks are too simple.

2.​What are the measures to enhance access to education?

●​ Infrastructure Development: Building schools and educational

facilities in underserved areas to ensure physical access to
education.
●​ Policy Reforms: Implementing policies that promote equal
access to education for all, including marginalized and
disadvantaged groups.
●​ Financial Support: Providing scholarships, grants, and financial
aid to students who may not be able to afford education
otherwise.
●​ Technology Integration: Using technology to deliver education
to remote areas or to individuals who cannot attend traditional
schools.
 ●​ Community Involvement: Engaging local communities to
support and prioritize education, and involving parents and
caregivers in their children's learning.
●​ Teacher Training and Recruitment: Ensuring there are enough
qualified teachers and providing them with the necessary
training and support.
●​ Special Programs: Creating special programs for students with
disabilities, those from low-income families, or those who have
been displaced due to conflicts or natural disasters.

3.​What are the advantages and disadvantages of US

education?
=> advantages vs disadvantages of centralized vs
decentralized education

●​
●​ The system provides formal education for a relatively large
portion of the population, but the quality of that education is not
as high as it might be in a more selective system.
●​
●​ The decentralization might cause local schools to get into
controversy and also makes it possible for particular schools to
maintain low standards if they want.
●​
●​ Educational institutions in America produce students with
knowledge of many aspects. They are well-rounded people, but
they may not be qualified enough to work in an intensively
specific field.

=> advantages vs disadvantages of centralized vs decentralized education

The system's decentralization serves to insulate educational institutions

from national political entanglements and to give citizens some voice in
what happens in their local schools. Schools can modify their curricula to
accommodate needs and conditions that pertain only to their own areas.

On the other hand, this decentralization makes it relatively easy for an

outspoken and committed minority in a given community to embroil local
schools in controversy and also makes it possible for particular schools to
main- tain low standards if they wish or feel compelled to do so.

4.​What is the assumption underlying the higher system?

An educational system is both a manifestation and a carrier of a

culture. People in a particular educational system, like people in a
particular culture, may be unaware of the fundamental assumptions
they are making and thus are unable to articulate them to people from
other systems. This leaves foreign students (in any country) on their
own to figure out how the system works and what is expected of them.

5.​What are the relationships between S-S, T-S, S-T like?

6.​Relationships between roommates?
7.​What are the suggestions for foreign students?

Relationships between S-S, T-S, S-T:

The relationship between S and T depends on the context. In physics,

S often represents displacement (distance) and T represents time, so
the relationship would be about motion over time. In mathematics, S
and T could represent variables in an equation or elements in a set,
and their relationship would depend on the specific problem or
equation at hand. Could you provide more context for a more precise
answer
 Relationships between roommates:

-​ Respect for Privacy

-​ Respect for Private Property
-​ Being considerate
-​ Being Direct

Suggestions for foreign students:

If you live in college or university dormitories, you may also benefit

from creating a "Roommate Contract." a written agreement about
each roommate's expectations for the living arrangements. You can
talk to your residence hall adviser for more information about such
contracts.

Although American teachers often respond negatively to students'

requests to bargain for higher grades, it is acceptable for students to
speak with their teachers about concerns they have regarding their
grades For example, students may arrange to meet with a teacher to
talk about their progress in class. Students may inquire about the
criteria for a specific grade. Students may also ask questions that help
them clarify their teacher's expectations about an assignment or the
material that will be covered on an exam. Generally, teachers are
willing to discuss how students can improve their performance. You
can ask the professor, "How can I do better in your class?”

8.​Research about homeschooling in the US

Homeschooling in the United States is a practice where parents

or guardians choose to educate their children at home rather
than sending them to a traditional public or private school
Legal Status:
 ●​ Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states of the US, but the
regulations and requirements vary significantly from state to
state.
Reasons for Homeschooling:
●​ Parents choose homeschooling for various reasons, including
dissatisfaction with the quality or values taught in public
schools, religious or philosophical beliefs, concerns about
bullying or safety, flexibility in curriculum and scheduling, and the
desire for personalized education tailored to their child's needs
and interests.
●​ Curriculum and Instruction:
○​ Homeschooling families have the flexibility to choose their
own curriculum and teaching methods, which can include
traditional textbooks, online courses, educational software,
hands-on activities, field trips, and real-life experiences.
○​ Parents often adapt the curriculum to match their child's
learning style, interests, and pace of learning.
●​ Socialization:
○​ One common concern about homeschooling is the
socialization of children, as they may have fewer
opportunities for interaction with peers compared to
traditional school settings.
○​ However, homeschooling families often participate in
co-ops, community activities, sports teams, clubs, religious
groups, and other social gatherings to provide
opportunities for socialization and peer interaction.