The American system of school education differs from

The American system of school education differs from the systems in other countries. There are state public schools, private elementary schools and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying.

Elementary education begins at the age of six or seven, when a child goes to the first grade (form). At the age of sixteen schoolchildren leave the elementary school and may continue their education at one of the secondary schools or high schools. The programme of studies in the elementary school includes English, Arithmetic, Geography, History of the USA, Natural sciences and, besides, Physical Training, Singing, Drawing, etc.

The elementary schools tend to be small. The high schools are generally larger and accommodate pupils from four or five elementary schools. A small town generally has several elementary schools and one high school. Here may be from five to twenty-five pupils in grades one through eight, all taught by the same teacher.

The National Government gives no direct financial aid to the institutions of higher education. Students must pay a tuition fee. This creates a finantial hardship for some people. Many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.

Those who have received secondary education can enroll in community colleges, also called the initial Colleges, technical colleges or urban colleges that after two years of training, give degree comparable to that of secondary education. Another possibility to continue their education - to enroll in colleges or universities, where they receive, usually within four years, a bachelor's degree. Received a bachelor's degree can study further to obtain a master's degree or Ph. D. Separately accredited faculties and universities give degree of doctor of medicine and doctors of law, which required special training and at the bachelor's

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