No problem, Leni! My school started classes at 7:45 and ran to 1:45 (in high school... junior high started later, elementary school later than that), but some places do have longer days.

Our homeroom started at 7:30, though, if that counts... haha.

School systems differ a lot across the US, and even sometimes vary within state. For example, I've talked with one of my friends who grew up in the same state as me, but in a different city, and her school system was different from mine. So, a lot can be different.

Hmm school, I was there from 8.45 till 4.30 every day because of the after school clubs I was involved in, but the regular day was 8.45-3.
College however was more of a 'turn up when you like and go home when you've finished the work' kinda thing, it was good, but only if you actually did the work. The tutors didnt really care much hehe.

I'd love to join in on the discussion of school systems in the US. Mostly because I have a very passionate opinion about the schooling system.

I come from many different schools of school. Early on I was in an elementary school in New Jersey. I was in a program where I was in kindergarten from 12 AM to 3 pm and then I went home for the day. In kindergarten I had to take a lot of "tests" starting out and then was put into an "academic track." I would leave the room twice a week, for two half hour periods, to learn mathematics and reading in other classrooms. I was in a 2nd grade math and a 1st grade reading room. Heh.

Anyway by 1st grade, when I was doing 3rd grade math and reading twice a week (yai). So I know they have accelerated programs like that in New Jersey. My school there went from grades k-3.

After that I got pulled out of school and put into a home teaching program.

Sorta.

My parents kinda just quit with the education thing. So I had no forms of education at all from that point until I was 12. During that time we lived in a motor home and drove around the country. I guess you could call that a "hands on" education? I duno.

When I was twelve I did a lot of tests and stuff and was put into 6th grade in New Jersey. I was in regular classes for all subjects but math, which they tried to put me in a lower class because I hadn't had any training in it in years. By 7th grade I was in an honors Math program though. Go me! (It just came easily to me... I've always been good at math.) So that put me completely in the "honors track" which meant that I could take two languages if I wanted or I got a study hall. I picked French and Spanish.

So, NJ schools also had programs designed for students who were below what was expected of kids their age.

Then I was transferred to North Carolina for 8th-12th grade. The first thing I remember noticing about 8th grade was that it was a "simpler" or "dumbed down" version of what I'd been taught in 7th in NJ. I had some of the same text books I'd used in 7th. Exactly the same. I remember Science especially. And the math I was learning in the "advanced" program in NC schools was equal to what I was being taught in 6th grade in NJ. I ened up testing into a high school algebra class. As for English and other classes... well those were all review for the most part. I didn't cover new material until about 11th grade. But, the other slant on the civil war was intersting to learn.

The experience taught me that no two school systems are the same. New Jersey has a reputation for being much tougher on students than a lot of other states, I guess that was true. It was easy for me to be in the top 10% in high school though, I'd already learned most of the material.

But, that's just becuase of the different ways our school systems worked.

Also, definitions of elementary, middle, and high school were different. In NJ e=k-3 m=4-8 and h=9-12. In NC it's e=1-5 m=6-8 and h=9-12. So, that's another differing way that the whole system is broken up. Also, in NC there was a lot of focus on music or PE and in NJ there was a greater variety of electives offered to students. Even at the middle school level. But, NC schools did push music more. I appreciated that.

Anything else I can share? Uhh... I'm not sure. Different foreign language requirements. NC=2 years of the same language. NJ=6.5 years of the same language plus a minimum of .5 of another.

Stuff like that.... just little differences that I noticed along the way. I hope that was at least a little bit interesting to some of you. At least now you have a pretty good idea of my education up until I got to University.

Sorry to have talked so much on the subject. I find the differences just between the two states to be fascinating. I can't help but wonder how it is in other places.

For my scintillating input (even though this thread's been abandoned since September), I am a student. Finishing tenth grade in... about a week and a half. Sweet!

Okay, because this is slightly related:

How do you get hired?!

No one wants me, it seems.

Anyone have any tips on Resume writing and/or other stuff pertaining ot getting a job? Because I really need one. Bad.

Oh interviews I can do... If you let me know what sort of job you're going for, what info you'll need to know etc... I can get back to you. Seriously, interviews are the *only* thing I'm good at.

Oh,a dn to answer in case I've not already... I am a psych student who works waaaaaaay too many jobs.

I'm an English major with a Creative Writing minor... Hmm... can we say Captain Obvious? Or even... No XXXX Sherlock?

Shut up, Jodie.

Nuff said.

Giorgia, social networking is very, very useful. A friend of a friend may know of a job available somewhere? Tis how I got my job... although I kinda flirted my way into that through one of the Burton boys. Anyway, when handing out CVs, don't be picky - just hand as many out as you can.

Good luck!

I've always found that it's easier to get a better job when you already have one, so apply for anything you feel you're qualified to do. Once you get something you can transfer around (if you're in a big company or a college atmosphere like me) or you can keep looking for a better job.

I've had a few jobs in my life, and I've always been good at interviewing. If you have any questions I can help with, please let me know.

Good luck with the search...

My thoughts exactly!

With that said, and me being only thirteen years old, I can only say what I would like to do when I get older. Since most of the time I get made fun of for this, I might as well spit it out. I would love to be a criminalist and work crime scenes. I know it would be nothing like what they put on t.v. and that it wouldn't land me great money, but helping people get thier justice seems like somthing I would be very interested in doing.

So mostly in highschool and college I plan on focusing on science, but the other subjects are just as important. Right now, it's a little hard to be trying to move in the right dirrection but I'm working on it.

I agree on the front of the posts about education: they're expecting too much too early, and it's only going to get people backed into corners.

And thank you everyone! It's helpful to get advice from people who actually HAVE jobs. I've got summer holidays in a couple of days, so I'll have to start printing out some resumes...

Thank you all again! So much! *Hugs computer*

Giorgia - just don't ever do what my clot of a son just did. He packed in his job two weeks before Christmas, before he'd got another one, and with two weeks rent due!

Still, he has his mom to bail him out... again!

Hope you get something soon. Actually, come to think of it, there's a job going at the Three Merry Lads pub now...
Leni

Miiztaylor: Don't let what ANYONE says distract you from your goal. Keep working hard and ignore those ignorant people who make fun of you. Once you are a bit older you might get in touch with your local Police Department and see if you can shadow one of their criminalists.

Giorgia: Good luck with the job search. If I can help in anyway please let me know. I've been working for UGA for almost 10 years (on and off while I was finishing my BA) and the veterinary clinic part-time for 9. Sometimes all it takes is to have a job, any job, to get a better one.

Try a temporary service. Many of them place employees in temporary to permanent positions. I worked for one for a while. It's interesting.

Leni: I'm sorry about your son. What can you do? Kids! They do the damnedest things! It must be that whole "invincible youth" thing. *shakes head*

Finding a job is tough but you know Audrey has a point sometimes all it takes to get a good job is to have a job... any other job.

I was working a pretty crummy retail job at TJ Maxx when I got the job I have now. The TJ Maxx thing was a job I knew I'd be hired for because it was a new store opening up that was going to need a lot of help to run smoothly. Anyway, I hated the job but ina month's time I had another interview lined up and it was enough experience to get me the job.

Now I make almost twice what I did and though the job kicks my butt sometime and I work all the time but I'm doing pretty well for myself.