Attending school gives children and teenagers a chance to learn a variety of subjects. It also helps them develop social skills and learn how to interact with others.
However, these are not the only reasons to choose a particular school. Many other factors must be considered. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important considerations.
History
Historically, schools have been important places where students practice taking responsibility for their own work and behavior. This is a crucial skill that will translate into future jobs, where students are required to meet deadlines, manage group projects and keep track of their own progress.
School also teaches students about different subjects, such as science, math and literature. This helps them explore areas of interest and find careers they are passionate about. School is a great place for young people to spend time with friends and learn new things, without worrying about getting into trouble.
After the Revolutionary War, schools were established to promote national unity and instill Protestant values. Horace Mann introduced a system of public education, leading to the establishment of teacher-training institutions known as normal schools (named for the Ecole Normale Superieure in France). The 19th century saw a rise in compulsory education to encourage social stability and to instill national values, including obedience and discipline.
Purpose
A school is an institution where children learn under instruction. It may be a single classroom or an entire education system, ranging from kindergarten through college:
The word also refers to a particular group of writers, artists, or thinkers whose work and opinions share a common style: the modern school; the Florentine school.
One of the manifest functions of schools is social control: to teach students respect for authority and conformity with rules. This is especially important when a student moves from the school environment to the workplace, where his or her life will continue to be dominated by people in positions of authority.
A secondary function of schools is economic development: to prepare students for jobs. This has become more prominent since the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain and North America, with some economists like Adam Smith advocating mass schooling as a necessary precondition for free-market economies. Others oppose this view, arguing that schools should instead encourage active civic engagement.
Types
In countries that have systems of formal education, students attend schools from early childhood through secondary school. These can be public or private.
The most common type of school is a traditional public school, which gets its funding from local and state government sources and must accept all students from within the district. However, there are other types of public school as well including charter schools and magnet schools, which focus on specific subjects and may have selective admissions.
Another major type of school is a maintained or private school, which is run and managed by the local council but adheres to a national curriculum. These may also include academies or free schools, which are similar to state schools and cannot select students based on ability, but have the flexibility to deviate from the national curriculum. There are also independent schools, which receive tuition payments from parents and operate independently from the government. Some of these have religious affiliations and are coed, while others are single sex.
Locations
When choosing a home, some families search for houses near schools. They find that living close to a school offers convenience and lowers the costs of commuting. Others fear the noise and traffic associated with schools and choose to live farther away from them.
Schools often have racks, fields and playgrounds that the community can use when students aren’t on site. This allows families to take advantage of community amenities while keeping their children safe.
However, schools located in suburban and rural areas are more likely to be close to busy roads. This can contribute to high levels of air pollution and noise near schools, especially when students are traveling to and from class. This is a concern that can be addressed by reducing vehicle emissions and through urban planning/policy efforts to reduce automobile use. Currently, many schools are located too close to roadways, and it is important that future school sites be set back from these busy roadways.