Laboratory Work №4

MP3 AUDIO 3.4

1. Listen to two people discussing the issue of public vs. state schooling. What are they saying about: cost, quality of education, increased life chances? What do you agree with most?

	Public school	State school
cost	quite expensive	free
quality of education	Better instructors and facilities; only rich people can allow to go to Public school	mix of students – more interesting
increased life chances	better employers first look for people at   public school, better chances of getting a really good job	only after public school employers look for students at state school

I agree, that the education is better at public school and there are a lot of chances for a really good job, but not all students and parents can allow attending public school, because it’s too expensive for them, that’s why they have no variants as to attend state school.

2. Think about the similarities and differences between:

- the education system in your country/the education system in the UK or the USA
The public educational system in Russia includes pre-schools, general schools, specialised secondary and higher education. The American system of education differs from the systems of other countries. There are free public schools which the majority of American children attend. There are also a number or private schools where a fee is charged. In Russia compulsory education is for children from 6(7) to 17 years of age. In the USA education is compulsory for every child from the age of 6 up to the age of 16 except in some states, where children must go to school until the age of 17 or 18. In the USA Elementary or primary and secondary or high schools are organized on one of two basis: 8 years of primary school and 4 years, or 6 years of primary, 3 years of junior high school and 3 years of senior high school. The junior high school is a sort of halfway between primary school and high school. In Russia the term of study in a general secondary school is 11 years and consists of primary, middle and upper stages. At the middle stage of secondary school children learn the basic laws of nature and society at the lessons of history, algebra, literature, physics and many others. After 9th form pupils have to sit for examinations. Also they have a choice between entering the 10th grade of a general secondary school or going to professional school.

- wearing school uniform/wearing what you like
Nowadays in Russia children have to wear uniform. I can’t say with sure whether it’s good or not. On the one hand pupil should be serious and concentrated at school and they shouldn’t look aside. But on the other hand, wearing school uniform don’t allow us to see a child’s basic personality.
- state-wide exams/continual assessment
They are two essential part of education. After a definite level, pupil must pass the exam in order to see their skills. And continual assessment is necessary too because it allows parents to see their children success or failure at school.