A Comparative Look at Secondary School Life in the Czech Republic and the United States

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A Comparative Look at Secondary School Life in
the Czech Republic and the United States

• by Wendy M. Ehnert
• Fulbright High School Teacher
• 2001/02

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• Kids are basically the same all over,
• but there are several differences
• in the way they are educated
• in the Czech Republic and the U.S.

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The Schools

• Gymnazium
• City in the Czech Republic
• (population 100,000)
• 1000 students
• Ages 12-20
• Student population homogeneous
• Students come from all over the surrounding area
• 100 teachers

• High School
• City in the USA
• (population 65,000)
• 1300 students
• Ages 14-18
• Student population diverse
• Students come from the neighborhood around the
  school
• 90-100 teachers

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Curriculum

• 4, 6 and 8-year programs
• Students study 10-12 subjects
• 45-minute lessons
• A 2 or 3 foreign languages (German, French,
  Spanish, Russian)
• All study biology, chemistry, physics
• Focus on 2-3 subjects (in addition to Czech and
  English) in final 2 years
• Grand Finale - Maturita exams in 5 subjects.

• 4-year program, all in English
• Students study 4-6 subjects
• 80-minute lessons
• Foreign language (German, Spanish, French,
  Japanese) is available and encouraged
• At least 3 years of science
• AP classes available
• Grand Finale-- Pass graduation qualifying exam in
  reading, writing, and math and successfully
  complete 22 credits of coursework.

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Expectations of Students

• Take notes from each lecture, work on practice
  problems during practice sessions.
• Little written homework and few projects
• Study notes each night in preparation for oral
  examination
• Science labs and activities are very limited due
  to time, space, equipment and financial
  restraints.
• Marks are determined based on oral examinations
  and 2-3 written examinations each semester.

• Take notes from lectures, participate in class
  discussions and activities.
• Written homework nightly
• No oral examinations given that count towards
  students grade
• Science labs and activities are an integral part
  of the lesson and are done weekly.
• Most of a students grade will be calculated
  based on homework, lab reports, written quizzes
  and tests.

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Expectations of Teachers

• Be prepared for each lesson.
• Mark students orally.
• Number of student marks/semester must equal or
  exceed number of days/week the class meets.
• Dozor- Hall duty (4-6 times/wk.)
• Mark student absences and lesson topic in class
  register each day.
• Be at school when you are scheduled to teach or
  have duty.
• No substitute teachers
• Teachers union is mostly a social group.

• Be prepared for each lesson.
• Assign homework, give tests, and prepare
  information sheet on grading strategy for
  students.
• No hall or lunch duty required.
• Take attendance submit weekly lesson plans to
  department head.
• Be at school from 715 until 245.
• Planning for substitutes!
• Teachers union very active politically

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Life at School

• Students spend their entire time at school with
  the same class.
• Class cohesion and support tough if you dont
  fit in
• Most lessons are taught in the students
  classroom-- the teacher travels throughout the
  day.
• Few electives are offered-- the students of one
  class all study the same subjects.
• Very few clubs and no school-sponsored
  after-school sports
• One well-known chorus group performs musical
  productions

• Composition of each class varies
• No class cohesion, but peer groups for kids of
  different interests
• The teacher has a room--students travel
  throughout the day.
• Many electives (or choices for required subjects)
  are available.
• After-school clubs and sports teams are a large
  part of life at Lathrop.
• Sporting competitions, concerts, and plays are a
  source of school spirit and community
  participation in the school.

8
Student Behavior

• Students stand when the teacher enters the room
  to start class.
• Lots of talking
• Cell phones
• Cheating on tests
• No blatantly disruptive behavior
• Students are mostly on time to the lesson.
• Many students have multiple absences.
• Students enjoy dance lessons!

• Talking can be a problem
• Some students can be disruptive
• Many students come late to class.
• Consequences for absences and tardies
• Hall passes required
• Parent contact

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Strengths

• Students have broad-based education
• Students become fluent in a second language
• Students of equal abilities
• Bonding of classmates
• Form teacher

• Individualized education plan
• Opportunities to work with students of differing
  abilities and backgrounds
• Availability of technology
• Able to explore/expand non-academic talents

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Challenges

• Lack of funding for supplies
• Short lesson periods
• Subjects meet only 2-3 times/wk.
• Students have to learn many subjects at once.
• Students are learning in a second language.
• Lack of available technology
• Most talented students not challenged to their
  ability level

• Lots of paperwork!
• Many meetings
• Students of widely different abilities in one
  class
• Parental issues
• Priority issues (academics, clubs, sports)
• Competition for grades regarding scholarships,
  etc.
• High drop-out rate
• Hard to track individual students