So, all the kiddies went back to school this week--elementary and common schools--(common school, that's what my school was called, until the late 70's...the term dates back to the 19th century, and refers to schools with classes from year 1 to year 8--or originally ages 6-14--tho' my school started at age 4/5 with kindergarten, my village school is now known as simply an elementary school now, as the term "common" was deemed too out of date, 30 years ago--tho' there are still a few schools in the US that use that term, I've read.) Also, middle schools, junior high schools and high schools--as well as the private (what you call "public") and Catholic/religious-based schools, are all back in session.
Most colleges went back a week to two weeks ago...except our local 2 year community college, they go back the same week as the public schools(what you would call state schools in the UK are public schools here). And, unlike other colleges, the local 2-year college in Queensbury, does not take a break from classes, until late November, unlike other schools, which give students a short break in October, around the Columbus Day holiday--due to the fact, probably, that classes start a week later there, than at other schools...something which can be tough on students, let me tell you, going flat out with studies nearly 3 months without a day off, except for weekends (ha--try not studying on weekends and see how your grades are).
Besides the differences in names--well, our two systems have huge differences, actually, we have a vast difference curriculum, as well, I suspect, and also, few public schools have a standard dress code--students wear what they want, as long as it's not too revealing (short shorts, low-cut blouses, etc) or has any crude sayings on it--most schools do ban tee shirts with drug-related, political, religious, sexually explicit or racist wording on them.
One big difference in schools is that in a public school, no religious references are allowed, as far as prayer and things like that--schools can teach about religions...if it's in a cultural context and covers all religions...but no prayer, no specific religious teachings are allow, because our constitution promises a separation of "church and state." This means no orginization using public funds may promote a religion. This is a protection from a goverment forcing its people into religious views--something certain republicans either ignore, object to, or would like to change. Unfortunately, too many conservatives (and sadly, some liberals) want America to be a "Christian" nation--which sounds fine...except some Americans either are not, or do not want to be, "Christians," and this law is meant to protect them, from overzealous religious fanatics. Sometimes the enforcement of the national law is a bit ridiculous, with some people going overboard or abusing the law, making a fuss over innocent things like traditional school Christmas concerts and such. But, without this law, I might be denied an education or employment--or even food, if I was poor, if I didn't convert to the state religion. So, I'd rather put up with the petty whingers, than have someone tell me that I HAVE to accept Jesus as my savior...or else.
Growing up, I and my sister and all the kids on my street, had to walk down our street, up a long, steep hill, and wait beside a four-lane divided motorway for our bus to school every morning. Granted, the village was small enough, that most--if not all, of us could have technically walked to school (which I sometimes had to do, if I missed the bus and mum didn't have the family's station wagon that day). It was sometimes a cold wait in winter...but the rest of the year, we'd find ways to amuse ourselves---when a loud car passed--particularly a VW bug, chugging away up the motorway's hill, we'd all yell at it, "Get a horse!" Why? Not a clue. Or, on a frosty morning, we'd find (disgusting to think of this, now) discarded cigarette ends, and pretend we were smoking...pretending the steam from our breath was cigarette smoke and acting real cool. Sometimes we'd start a whinging session over hated teachers. In spring, we'd pick lilacs from a grove of 100 year old lilac bushes nearby. When we got to school, we'd wrap them in wet paper towels and give them to our favourite teachers. In autumn, we'd drive the bus driver insane, but taking ginko nuts--from a neighbours ginko tree, and smooshing them on the bus...really gross, 'cos smooshed ginko nuts smell EXACTLY like vomit! But, we thought it a right larf. This was long before video games, remember, so we were easily amused. I can remember a few times in autumn, us pelting each other with horse chesnuts...and of course in winter, with snowballs.
