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Geek Culture / American education system. Plz read

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AtomR
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 21:33 Edited at: 18th Aug 2005 21:34
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Hi,
A cousin of mine is writing some fanfic and his story is set in an american high school. He wanted to ignore the real american education system and make one up but I convinced him to reasearch it for acuracy and believability. So my question is this: Can you describe the americam educxation system? I mean describe what subjects you take in highschool and what are your options, how many years etc anything you think its important.

Or even better could you refer any site wher I can learn every nook and crany of the education system. I want to even know class(subject) names etc. thx

Take care
AtomR
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Cian Rice
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 21:37
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4 Years In Highschool
Subjects depend on the school really:
Some form of science (bio,physics,chemistry,anatomy and physiology)
Math (Trig,Pre-Calc,Calc,Geometry,Algebra 1,Algbra 2)
Social Studies(U.S History,World History,Geography)
English
Foreign Language (Latin,Spanish,French,Some Schools do German I hear)
Wellness (Gym+Health)
And then about 60+ electives at my school in many different subjects, graphics design, 3d modelling and animation, web design, public speaking, intro to accoustic, etc...


My Blog Is Seriously Disturbing. Come and Be Disturbed!
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Xolatron old
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 21:50
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4 years highschool:
Minimum class requirements (in parenthesis reccommended for college)
0 (2) yrs Foreign Language
2 (3) yrs math
2 (3) yrs science
2 (3) yrs history
4 yrs Physical Education
4 yrs English

After putting all neccessary classes and those reccommended for college, one is left with absolutely NO choices of classes, although many others exist. Computer related courses are severely limited and beginner-oriented.

Every year you get a bunch of standard tests that are thrown at you and you have to complete them. If you do poorly councilors come and tell you kindly that you have no chance at ever going to college, or doing much with your life at all. (well, I always do well, but that's pretty much what happens)

Teachers forget that you have other classes and sporadically give you huge homework assignments due so soon that you have to work very late at night (this problem is most prevalent in English class).

Many people are interested in what you do just so that they can annoy you about it and say that it is really easy or pointless (of course, there are a few nice people who will actually be interested).

Oh, I almost forgot... there are usually two 'tracks': normal and honors.

That's about it (all I can think of at the moment)

-Xol

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 21:51 Edited at: 18th Aug 2005 21:56
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sounds about right to me.

depends on school/state for required. For instance, I had:

2yrs math require
2yrs science require
3yrs english + (senior project) which was english-based
2 yrs history
1 yr pe
no foreign language required but it is HIGHLY reccommended to go on to college.

Of course most public schools have tons of pep rally's and such for sports(gets you out of class).

the rest was pretty much my choice

Also, automatic suspension for any weapons or drugs and probably expulsion(for weapons), in almost any state public high school.

"Dark Basic rocks! Although the things you can do are not as dynamic as C++, just think how long it would take to do the same thing! I can get FPS of over 60!"
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Lost in Thought
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:04
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It sucks and thats about all I remember. The US has the worst education system I know of. In my particular school, you can pass with a 40% test average. The grading goes tests = 50%, classwork = 25% and homework (which should never be needed)= 25%. So you can have a 40 test average, 100 classwork, and 100 homework and pass with a 70 And you use your book for the classwork and homework The only grades that should matter are the tests IMO. There are 2 different courses you can take in our high school. Vocational or College Prep.

Vocational:
Grade 9 = algebra1 minimum math, language arts(english/gram.), biology min science, world studies (social studies), 1 elective, and health & physical fitness.

Gr.10 = geometry min math, language arts(english/gram.), physical science min science, world studies (social studies), and 2 electives.

Gr.11 = applied math 1 min math, language arts(english/gram.), ecology min science, world studies (social studies), and 2 electives.

Gr.12 = make up any maths, social studies, sciences, and or language arts you failed plus another language arts. Any free time you have left can be used to get out of school early for work or you have to take more electives.

College Prep is pretty much the same except with higher math and science mins and 1 of your electives has to be a foreign lang.

They also have early release programs (much like prison) where you can go to a college or technical shcool for your 12th grade and get credit for both (like I did).

As you will notice, I barely passed language arts with a min 70 average shortly afterwards forgetting most of what I learned including spelling, as I am a math and science man Nobody around here speaks englsih hardly anyway let alone perfect english.

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:11
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Quote: " The grading goes tests = 50%, classwork = 25% and homework (which should never be needed)= 25%"


Completely depends on the class. For instance, in Michigan... tests for math is 75%, quizes 15%, and homework is 10%. But yea, in general american high schools are extremely easy to pass compared to other countries.

"Dark Basic rocks! Although the things you can do are not as dynamic as C++, just think how long it would take to do the same thing! I can get FPS of over 60!"
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Cian Rice
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:12
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In my school its like Test 40, Quizes 20, Effor and Parcipation 40...


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Xolatron old
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:18
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Oh yes, I forgot. Teachers give you homework over the summer ! uggh.

The only good part is my small rewards from my amazing calculator programs .

-Xol

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:21
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Quote: "Teachers give you homework over the summer ! uggh."


Wow, you school really does suck. I guess American high schools are very different from each other, other than the 4 yrs, general classes, and electives.

"Dark Basic rocks! Although the things you can do are not as dynamic as C++, just think how long it would take to do the same thing! I can get FPS of over 60!"
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JoelJ
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 22:38
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Quote: "The US has the worst education system I know of. "

You only get out what you put in...if you are a slacker like Jimmy, you wont learn a thing.

Quote: ""Teachers give you homework over the summer ! uggh.""

only in honor classes, and you choose to take those classes.

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David T
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 23:07
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Quote: "Some Schools do German I hear"


Is it that uncommon?

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 18th Aug 2005 23:09
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my school did Spanish, French, and Japanese, but I have seen many schools that teach German, pretty common from what I hear.

"Dark Basic rocks! Although the things you can do are not as dynamic as C++, just think how long it would take to do the same thing! I can get FPS of over 60!"
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Cian Rice
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 00:17
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Well I wasn't sure if it was common because none of the schools around where I live teach it. And Japanese is unheard of. Thought I'm begging my mom to get me private japanese classes so I can watch some of the anime that has been ruined over here in its original form like One Piece and Shaman King, and Soon Naruto. I mean I really am that obsessed I mean I HAVE A WITCH HUNTER ROBIN BAG!

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JoelJ
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 00:35
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they did German, Spanish, Japanese, American Sign Language, and i think French at my school
i took one year of German, but i didnt like the way the teacher tought her class and they were only teaching German 2 during 8th period which i had another class that i could only have 8th (computer) so guess which took the steak...

"people who wear clothing with tech themes for the purpose of gaining a social label are no different than teenagers who wear large sweatpants to look edgy"
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Jimmy
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 00:35
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Quote: "You only get out what you put in...if you are a slacker like Jimmy, you wont learn a thing."


I don't know, I think I came out OK. Plus, the station's installing two new pumps, so I'm hoping they'll let me stop scrubbing toilets and get a pump job, because the tips are out of this world!


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Alkaline
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 01:26
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atually foriegn languages depend on the teachers they have there..our school only have spanish,french and german. but we have about 6-7 spanish teachers and the rest we only have about 1 each...maby its cause i live in texas right next to the border hoppers.

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Cian Rice
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 02:32
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Meh. Most of our spanish teachers are from Spain.

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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 07:15
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It's good you can pass with low test grades. I know some guys that choke on math tests, but ace all their homework without even barely having to think.

I don't think many of our spanish teachers are totally Mexican even though I'm in AZ. The guy who teaches my friend's spanish class has family in South America or something, he just had to pick up the style they wanted to teach kids in the school district.

At my school they offer German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Most take French or Spanish though.

We have to take Business Technology (basically teaching you MS Office) to graduate. My school's math is screwed up, but basically for science:
Investigative Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics/Anatomy

We have World Studies sophomore (10th grade) year, then Economics/Government Junior or Senior year.

Only one year required for PE.

English Goes like this:
English I
English II
???I don't know
Senior Composition


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Phaelax
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 09:53
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Quote: "4 years highschool:
Minimum class requirements (in parenthesis reccommended for college)
0 (2) yrs Foreign Language
2 (3) yrs math
2 (3) yrs science
2 (3) yrs history
4 yrs Physical Education
4 yrs English
"


4 years of PE? Where the heck did you go to school?

4 year highschool, 19 credits needed. (21 for current graduates)

2 math
1 science
4 english
history/global studies/government

These requirements have changed since I graduated. I graduated with 5 science and 3 math. (counted physics as science) Foreign language wasn't required, but I took 1 year of Latin.

There's also the 9th grade Proficiency tests that you are required to pass.

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Redmotion
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 15:45
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Perhaps you should replace Biology with Intelligent Design studies... (Was George W. Bush a comedian once?)

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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 16:27 Edited at: 19th Aug 2005 16:29
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People who attempt to learn Japanese just so they can watch their Japanese Anime cartoons seriously need to find something else to do.

Yeah I have a friend who studied Japanese for a while, but he's now a well paid English teacher in a Jap school.


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TDP Enterprises
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 19:46
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Quote: "People who attempt to learn Japanese just so they can watch their Japanese Anime cartoons seriously need to find something else to do"

agreed.

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Lavitz
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Posted: 19th Aug 2005 19:58
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@AtomR

I'm from the NW, so I don't know much about the rest of the county's education system. Over here in high school apparently you can pass with a C. I don't allow myself that however. Basically it's an easy stride through highschool with lots of tests, mean teachers, lots of students(2000 over at mine), and many poeple with the urge to fight somebody. Sometimes they're actually quite funny, considering that thier faces look as though they've been constipated since they were born. Ohh yeah, and for your friend, some poeple get canned alot(usually Freshmen). The only two good things about school is education and getting away from your parents.

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Osiris
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Posted: 20th Aug 2005 09:26
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In ur school everyone I talk to wants to have latin as a second language but there are no teachers :-(, even the teachers want to learn latin...

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Eric T
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Posted: 20th Aug 2005 09:59 Edited at: 20th Aug 2005 10:11
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Quote: " People who attempt to learn Japanese just so they can watch their Japanese Anime cartoons seriously need to find something else to do."


I *attempted* to learn japanese for the reason of wanting to watch anime without it being 'Americanized', and also so when I import my fighting games, I could read what the menus said

The keyword is ATTEMPTED though... I eventually gave up and started downloading Fan Subbed anime off the internet. Haven't regretted it since.

Quote: "I mean I really am that obsessed I mean I HAVE A WITCH HUNTER ROBIN BAG!
"


I have an entire collection of gungrave memorabilia(sp?), from shirts to little models... heh

Witch hunter robin was ok though, till the end atleast. I was very disapointed with all the holes they left open in the story, without leaving a option for a half decent sequel (not spoiling it because i'm not sure if AS has aired all 26 episodes yet). There may be room for a OVA explaining things in more detail though. That and the music pissed me off, i thought it didn't fit the dark story one bit. Oh, and at some points it pissed me off when it tried to hard to pretty much copy hellsing.... you know what? Now that I think of it, Witch Hunter Robin pisses me off...

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Lavitz
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Posted: 20th Aug 2005 13:29
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I know some Japanese. Like "te" form and all of that. It's quite difficult. The easiest way to learn japanese is to watch anime that you've never seen before with the japanese voices and not to put on subtitles. You'll evetually learn what they're saying and what's going on. (although this can take a long time).

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