英美概况PPT文档.pptVIP

5. Education and Social Life 5. 1 Education In the United States , education is regarded as both an individual benefit and a social necessity. 5. 1. 1 Characteristics of American Education First, generally speaking, formal education in the United States consists of elementary, secondary and higher education. Elementary and secondary education is free and compulsory. There are different types of colleges and universities available for high school graduates from different social and economic backgrounds. Presently, more than half of the graduates from senior high schools can go on to further study in different types of institutions of higher learning. There is greater possibility in the United States for adults to get higher education than in most countries in the world. Second, some schools, colleges and universities are public and others are private. The public schools, usually larger in size, are created, financially supported and governed by states or communities, and private ones by religious groups, or nonreligious private organizations or individuals. There are more public elementary and secondary schools than private ones, while private colleges and universities outnumber public ones. Although coeducation is the principle, there are still quite a number of single sex institutions. Third, diversity is considered to be an outstanding characteristic of American education. Under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, education was included among the responsibilities which were “reserved to the states or the people”. Education is a function of the state, not the federal government. There is not a national system of education in the United States. It is the state that establishes policies for the education within its boundary. 5. 1. 2 Elementary and Secondary