Schooling in the USA

In today’s episode, Ismaine and Robin discuss schooling in the USA, and how it differs from that in France and the UK.

They consider, in particular, the propagandizing of young children at school – whether by presenting them with political ideas or advertizing to them the names and products of private companies with which schools partner to raise funds. The US also differs from the cohosts’ native countries in holding elections for the people who set school policies (School Boards). In contrast, in France and the UK, the legal constraints on state-run schools come entirely from local and national government. They end by considering the plight of teachers, who are often overstretched - a problem in all of the countries with which Ismaine and Robin are familiar.