The differences are remarkable. First and foremost, multiple choice does not exist here, which I think is both comical and certainly part of the reason why Switzerland scores better in math and science. Secondly, there's the individual responsibility load that every student must carry, which far outweighs of anything in the US. Thoughts?
'The US' is a very general statement though. Every kid in the US is expected to attend HS so to make sure all can graduate the classes are on average easier. They need multiple choice so the kids can pass
But if your kids take college prep/advanced placement courses then their workload and need for personal organization and responsibility is much much greater.
It makes sense to me that CH would score higher in math and science because you are looking at the top @15-20% of the country in 'high school' in CH, while in the US you are looking at every child of 'high school' age in the country. Could be wrong though.
I've never attended high school in either the United States or Switzerland, but based on my experience of watching films over the last thirty years or so, I'd say that the main difference is that Swiss schools have fewer zombies, radioactive mutants, vampires and portals to the underworld.
And many counties are in the middle of a massive reform of the secondary system (see my other thread re Neuchâtel) and others not- so very difficult to compare.
Unlike other cantons, anyone who has finished secondary school with sufficient grades can go.
"“Ma rispetto ad altri cantoni – riprende Sartori – in Ticino non ci sono esami d’ammissione per accedere al liceo. Da noi chiunque sia in possesso della licenza di scuola media e abbia dei voti discreti può frequentarlo."
I conducted an extremely rigorous case study on the relative merits of US and Swiss (ok, IB) education by asking my class - one of whom had been to prep school in the US - which was better.
I don't think it's fair to compare America's high school to the Matura program here. Everyone has to go to high school in America whereas only the more academic students do the Matura.
I like the answers a survey of his class.. 1 was in America. They all think here is better , but do they all finish 13 years of school and do all have a chnce of college. And the other one.. I've never been to either but watched 90210? Really, Wow
Kind of like the old u.s. man coming into France and had trouble finding his pass, the guard asked have you been here before? He Answered ya a long time ago. Well then the zoll man said you should know you need a pass! The man looked at him and said well when I got off the boat at Normandy beach , I didn't see a single french man nor could I find one to show it to!!
And when the french ordered all the U.s.millitary out of France can't remember who answered them for the U.S.and said... You mean all of the dead ones buried here from fighting for your freedom too?
Most jobs in the US require a high school diploma. If you get it through going to a high school, homeschooling or a vocational school, it's still the same diploma in the end.
In my area, you might have 10% of students doing their matura, which is an academic diploma that allows you to enter college. One can aquire a Berufsmatura as well.
Because a matura/berufsmatura is not mandatory for many jobs, whereas a high school diploma is, I don't see how these two qualifications can be realistically compared using the same basis.
No weapon detectors or security needed. Fewer choices because you have to take academic subjects and can not graduate in auto mechanics or baby sitting.
It's true, you can not compare the two at all. School education in Switzerland is on a top level, even if you don't go for Matura. My daughter had 13 subjects, all counting equally, 5 written and 5 oral exams, and a pre-university thesis of 15 pages text to write to pass her Matura.
The FMS (Fachmittelschule) are also at a high level.