The Education Ladder [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

The Education Ladder Americans view their public school system as an educational ladder, rising from elementary to high school and finally college undergraduate and graduate programs. Most children start school at age five by attending kindergarten, or even at age three or four by attending preschool programs. Then there are usually six years of elementary school, two years of middle school (or junior high school), and four years of high school. After high school, most students go on to college. Undergraduate studies lead to a bachelor’s degree, which is generally what Americans mean when they speak about a “college diploma”. The bachelor’s degree can be followed by graduate studies, which lead to master’s and doctoral degrees (PhDs). American public schools are free and open to everyone at the elementary and secondary (high school) level, but public universities charge tuition and have competitive entrance requirements. The educational ladder concept is an almost perfect reflection of the American ideal of individual success based on equality of opportunity and “working your way to the top.”