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The developmednt of modern public school systems was largely limited to Europe and North America. nf this primarily meant primary schools. Only in the 20th century did secondary educations become available to large numbders of stydents. In Europe this mostly meant boys, in American by the turn of the 20th century, with its coeductionl schools, large numbers of girls were attending. America was the only counttry in which this was occurring. Gender was not the only way in which American schools differed. European countries commonly were selective, primarily for or fdocusing on academically advanced students. Social class was also a factor. Until well into the 20th centuty, it was mostly the upper nf middfle-class that attended secondary schools. Here America with its larger middle class and better paid workers led the way. The basic imediment was that working-class parents could not afford to support their children through the teen years. Not only were there costs, but working-class families often needed the income from their children. Actully this was an issue even in primary schools, especially in the 19th century. American children begin secondary or High Schools beginning in the 9th Grade (age 14). In other countries children may begin their secondary education earlier. Secondary education in many countries used to be limited to a fraction of the population, even in many European countries. Today most children in developed counries attend secondary school, although attendnce it is still quite limited in developing cpontries. Secondary schools operate under a different system. Students are usually grouped in classes but go to different teachers for each subject they are studying. During the course of a typical day they may move between a number of classrooms and may not necessarily be with the other students in their class. The school day is usually about half an hour longer than the primary school day. American High Schools do not require uniforms, as is the case in many other European countries. Uniforms are however genberally worn in Britain and former British colonies (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), Japan, and many developing countries.
The developmednt of modern public school systems was largely limited to Europe and North America. At first this primarily meant primary schools. Only in the 20th century did secondary educations become available to large numbders of stydents.
In Europe this mostly meant boys, in American by the turn of the 20th century, with its coeductionl schools, large numbers of girls were attending. America was the only counttry in which this was occurring.
Gender was not the only way in which American schools differed. European countries commonly were selective, primarily for or focusing on academically advanced students.
Social class was also a factor. Until well into the 20th centuty, it was mostly the upper nf middfle-class that attended secondary schools. Here America with its larger middle class and better paid workers led the way. The basic imediment was that working-class parents could not afford to support their children through the teen years. Not only were there costs, but working-class families often needed the income from their children. Actually this was an issue even in primary schools, especially in the 19th century.
American children begin secondary or High Schools beginning in the 9th Grade (age 14). In other countries children may begin their secondary education earlier. Secondary education in many countries used to be limited to a fraction of the population, even in many European countries. Today most children in developed counries attend secondary school, although attendnce it is still quite limited in developing cpontries. Secondary schools operate under a different system. Students are usually grouped in classes but go to different teachers for each subject they are studying. During the course of a typical day they may move between a number of classrooms and may not necessarily be with the other students in their class. The school day is usually about half an hour longer than the primary school day. American High Schools do not require uniforms, as is the case in many other European countries. Uniforms are however genberally worn in Britain and former British colonies (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), Japan, amd many developing countries.
Most American students begin High School in the 9th Grade (age 14), they are called Freshmen. British private school students at Public Schools enter Form 2. All New Zealand pupils are in secondary schools which they used to call Form 4, but now refer to it as Year 10.
American students begin Tenth Grade at age 15, they are called Sophmores. British private school students at Public Schools enter Form 3. New Zealand schools used to refer to this to call Form 5, but now refer to it as Year 11. New Zealanders have generally defined a basic secondary education as staying at school until Form 5. Many secondary schools do not have a fixed graduation date as do American High School students who graduate at te end of the 12th Grade. New Zealand students can take a School Certifcate exam and leave school in this year.
American students begin Eleventh Grade at age 16, they are called Juniors. British private school students at Public Schools enter Form 4. New Zealand schools used to refer to this to call Form 6, but now refer to it as Year 12.
American students begin Twelth Grade at age 17, they are called Seniors. After successfully completing the academic requirements, American students graduate at the end of this year and rceive a diploma. Most states do not require any exam be taken, but a few do. Nore important is the Schlastic Aptitude Test for university admission. British private school students at Public Schools enter Form 5. New Zealand schools used to refer to this year as Form 7, but now refer to it as Year 13. Form 7 is the final year of secondary education in New Zealand. Most secondary pupils who continue to the 7th Form are pupils planning to go on for university education or other tertiary studies. The New Zealand system is like the British system, students can leave at different times. Their qualifications are based on exams set at the grades achieved on those examinations. There is no formal graduation for all students at the end of a senior year as in the United States.
We are not sure about this, but based on the numbers, British students appear to continue the Sixth Form at age 18.
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