American education has historically made two sharp distinctions. The first is between local and national control of education: our federalist system puts state and local governments in charge of education, not the federal government. The second is between private and public schools: public schools receive government funding and are subject to rules and regulations to ensure that the funds are used appropriately, whereas private schools do not receive government funding and are given more freedom over what their educational programs look like and how their funds are used. When the first distinction is blurred, the American right tends to take up arms, and when the second is blurred, the American left tends to be incensed.
How do other countries manage school choice? Are private and religious schools clearly distinguished from their public counterparts, or are there overlaps in funding and oversight? To answer this question, I researched four specific questions about how autonomous non-public schools are in 50 countries, including the United States:
- Does this country have private and/or religious schools that can receive public funds?
- Does this country have nationally-mandated exams?
- Does this country have a nationally-mandated curriculum?
- Does this country have a nationally-mandated teacher pay scale?
For all four questions, the modal response was overwhelmingly yes. In fact, all four responses were yes in 25 of the 50 countries, and in two others, three responses were yes and there was no information available about teacher pay. This contrasts markedly with the United States, which was one of only two countries—the other being Brazil—where the answer to all four questions was no. (In Taiwan, the answer was no to the first three, and no information was available about teacher pay.)
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American Educational Nervous System Model Activity Set
BISS (American Educational)
- The structure of the central and peripheral nervous systems are illustrated with the nervous system model activity set
- A close examination of the human brain with a removable transparent overlay defining the brain lobes is included
- Diagrams illustrate the location of the brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves, dendrites, axons, and synapses through-out the human body
- Activity set consists of a 18 height by 24 width model, an activity guide and a transparency
- Each model in the series contains the supplemental materials listed in the description of the general human body system model activity sets at the top of the page
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LeapFrog LeapReader Reading and Writing System, Pink
Toy (LeapFrog)
- LeapReader helps your child learn to read and write with confidence by teaching reading comprehension, vocabulary and listening skills
- Features a LeapReader, activity sampler, Learning Paper writing sheet plus download 1 Audio Book Bundle, 1 Music Album and 1 Trivia Challenge pack
- Works with LeapReader and Tag books* (a library of 150+ books, games and more). Sold separately. *Select Tag books only
- Teaches reading, comprehension, phonics skills, vocabulary, writing and letter forms
- Ages 4-8 years
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LeapFrog LeapTV Dance and Learn Educational, Active Video Game
Toy (Leapfrog)
- This LeapTV Educational, Active Video Game let s you feel the beat and move those feet to nine dancing games that teach early reading skills
- Puts your child in the game with body motion for countless hours of dancing fun
- The Educator Approved game is designed by LeapFrog Learning experts for Ages 4-7
- This active learning game teaches vocabulary, phonics, alphabet, compound words, word sounds and rhymes, and sight words
- Works with LeapFrog LeapTV Educational, Active Gaming System. Internet connection may be required for programming update
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American education has historically made two sharp distinctions. The first is between local and national control of education: our federalist system puts state and local governments in charge of education, not the federal government. The second is between private and public schools: public schools receive government funding and are subject to rules and regulations to ensure that the funds are used appropriately, whereas private schools do not receive government funding and are given more freedom over what their educational programs look like and how their funds are used. When the first distinction is blurred, the American right tends to take up arms, and when the second is blurred, the American left tends to be incensed.
For all four questions, the modal response was overwhelmingly yes. In fact, all four responses were yes in 25 of the 50 countries, and in two others, three responses were yes and there was no information available about teacher pay. This contrasts markedly with the United States, which was one of only two countries—the other being Brazil—where the answer to all four questions was no. (In Taiwan, the answer was no to the first three, and no information was available about teacher pay.)
