Saturday, September 17, 2016

First day at the academy

Before we look at my journal page today, I want to take a few minutes to discuss different school systems.  Several of you have mentioned you are learning about our (U.S.) systems as I hand out tidbits along the way.  So let's look at two systems: U.S. and U.K.

In the U.S., children can begin with pre-school, which is not mandatory.  They go on to Kindergarten which we abbreviate "K."

Grade or grammar schools are either K-6 or K-5, depending on individual school systems.  Next is Junior High, which is either 6-8, 6-9, 7-9, or 7-8.  It again depends on individual school systems.  High School is either 9-12 or 10-12.

Discounting home schooling, which has become a big thing in the U.S., this is what we talk about when we mention K-12.

High school graduates can then opt to go on to college, or a vocational technical school.  College can be 4 year where students receive a bachelor's degree, or 2 year, where students receive an associate's degree.  From there, students can work toward a Master's degree which is normally 2 years, and a Ph.D., which is another 3-4 years.  MDs go an additional 3 years.

I wondered how we differed from students in other countries.  From the internet, I learned this is what occurs in the U.K..   Their grades are called levels or years.  Age has more to do with level than anything.  A child is placed in a certain grade or level depending on whether his/her birthday is before of after September 1.

Nursery school, which is not mandatory is from 2 to 4 years of age.  Reception is ages 4-5, then Year 1 is ages 5-6,  Year 2  is ages 6-7, Year 3 is ages 7-8, Year 4 is ages 8-9, Year 5 is ages 9-10, and Year 6 is ages 10-11.  So far that sounds much like the ages of children in the U.S.

Once a child reaches age 11, s/he moves on to High school.  Apparently Jr. High or Middle school was abandoned in the late 1980s.   Year 7 is ages 11-12, Year 8 is ages 12-13, Year 9 is ages 13-14, Year 10 is ages 14-15, and Year 11 is ages 15-16.  These are mandatory years of attendance. 

At the age of 16 the compulsory attendance period is over. Students can then go on to get a job, take a test to continue their schooling (used to be called "O" levels).  This becomes sixth form where they will complete their "A" Levels or go on to take vocational courses.  Year 12 includes ages 16-17, and Year 13 includes ages 17-18.

Providing students have good enough grades, they can go on to attend college, which is 3 years in the U.K..  To add a Master's degree, they go another year. 

Seems we in U.S. and U.K. are similar until we get to college, where U.S. students go nearly twice as long to receive their desired higher level degree.  I hope this helps my friends on both sides of the pond understand a bit more about these different systems.  I certainly learned a lot.

Now let's visit the academy. 


School is starting a bit late at the academy. 

At the academy, everyone wears the same uniforms, something "foreign" to many of us in the U.S., although it seems to be the norm in most other places in the world.


Materials used include computer generated text, a magazine image, a strip of hand painted paper, a colored doily, and a gifted strip from a cigar box.


Thank you for joining Bleubeard and me today as we learned about different school systems.  Please also join us at Art Journal Journey where the prompt this month is Back to School.

13 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Yes, every land has different systems, in Germany it's not the same as the UK either When I was small we had to start school in the term after out fifth birthday, so I was 5 in December and started in January. Thanks for your explanations of the differences, and another lovely journal page for AJJ, you are doing us proud! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Interesting how different places have different ideas. Thank you for doing the research and telling us all about the two countries.

Love the page with the wonderful photograph.

In answer to your question on my blog. I would be honoured to be included on your list--thank you

Love Chrissie xx

Jeanie said...

Nice explanation of our system and I love the page. That photo is a gem and perfect with the blue.

(And on your comment -- I'm bugged by bottled water, too. Granted, it's a blessing for those with poor water but to be honest, if the tap water is fine, I can't really tell any difference! Thanks for stopping by!)

My name is Erika. said...

Nice page. Those little boys are pretty cute in their uniforms. I think it kinds of goes against our independent nature to think of little kids in those uniforms. One thing to add to your schools in the US description. Some school districts have abandoned the jr high model, which is like high school for younger kids, with a few more safety nets in place. They have gone to the middle school model. The middle school model is a team based model. They kids get put on a team and spend the whole day together, like in elementary school, but they switch classes like in high school. Their 4 academic subject teachers all work together to do a common curriculum, to some extent. So if they are studying astronomy in science they might do some astronomy writing in English. But not totally. Its kind of a weird thing and not really different from jr high in many ways. But they claim it helps transitions from elementary and then to high school. Just fyi. I don't teach middle school-they kind of scare me- so I am not an expert. I'll stick with the big kids, mostly sophomores, in high school, who are getting more babyish every year. Maybe because I am getting older. :) Hope its a good weekend ahead. :) Hugs-Erika

Krisha said...

Great post, and a lot of information.
Our grade system is diverse it is hard to keep track, glad my boys are grown and out of school *grin* Now I track the Gks, but not as closely.....that belongs to their parents...LOL!

Meggymay said...

First of all I love the old photo on your wonderful nostalgic, journal page, uniforms are mostly the norm here in the UK as you mentioned.
To add to your list from here in the UK. Not all the counties gave up the Middle School system in the 80's. e.g. the children in our village use the system you describe. But in the next village 2 miles away, they still have the old ways of a First School, then the children have to take the school bus to the Middle School, then later to High School.
No wonder there is confusion on how best to tackle our education problems.
I don't think they will find a solution that will make everyone happy.
Yvonne xx

froebelsternchen said...

Thank you for that explanations - everywhere it is a bit different. I went to school in Bavaria/Germany and we got our university entry qualification in the 13th class and it is called Abitur there and we counted the classes from the first grade up to 13- but here in Austria they get their "Matura"( so they call the university entry qualification here) in the 12th class and they count class 1 to 8 in High School. And I am sure in Switzerland they have another own name for university entry qualification...lol!
A fabulous page dear Elizabeth!
I am sad that I haven't shown much this month
for your super theme, hope you don't mind - I am a little bit busy with family and household just now after I returned at home.
Happy Sunday my friend!
oxo Susi

Divers and Sundry said...

Thx! It's always interesting to see how other folks do things.

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

Very interesting! And good page too. Aways fun to see your posts. Thanks, Elizabeth!

sheila 77 said...

That was very interesting, Elizabeth and Bleubeard, and it was also interesting to read the comments. Scotland is different from England in some ways education-wise but I don't know enough about England to comment on the differences. Many in the UK think school uniforms are a good thing as it takes away the dressing competition element as well as for other reasons.with the smart boys, and smiled at the cigar box gifting you the patterned strip, nice cigar box.

Halle said...

Very good explanation of our crazy school system. Love the page.

Sandy said...

I am grinning ear to ear - love your journal page. When I was in grammar school we had safety monitors and we got to wear white belts just like those in your picture. No hats! Boy I had not thought of that in years!!
sandy xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Elizabeth I love your journal page so much - the uniform looks very military! Thank you for taking the time to explain the US education system - I often wonder when references are made to grades! Hugs, Chrisx