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New Connection—Book 4
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UNIT 3
Western vs.
Eastern Education
Starting Off:
Everyone who has attended school has at least a few memories that they’d rather forget, like having a teacher that was too harsh or failing an important test. But what about one’s overall feeling about the education he or she received? How
would you describe your experience receiving an education in your country? What do you think should have been done differently? What aspects of your country’s education system should be utilized in other places? Why?
3
Task I
Listen to the audio. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words provided.
GETTING READY
Are you looking for a ①__________ school for your children?
Here’s what JFK offers:
• Boarding facilities in ② __________ Switzerland
• Faculty members that are ③ __________ in diverse fields
• More ④ ________________ and less emphasis on competition
If you are interested in more information about JFK International School, visit our Web site and request an information packet!
worthwhile
scenic
specialists
academic freedom
4
GETTING READY
rote
test-oriented
independent thinkers
cultivation
academic achievement
applications
5
Task II
Listen to the audio again. Decide which school the following students would most likely want to attend.
GETTING READY
Brightworks School
Pinghe Bilingual School
JFK International School
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GETTING READY
No.1 - JFK International School, Switzerland

It’s undeniable1 that traveling abroad is worthwhile for almost everyone, so why not give your child the chance to live in a foreign country? JFK International School is located in scenic2 Saanen, Switzerland, and hosts around 25 boarding3 students each year. At JFK, there are numerous specialist4 teachers on staff; this gives students more academic freedom when it comes to what they want to learn. Additionally, JFK believes the stresses of competition can be detrimental5 to the learning environment, so instead students undertake individual challenges against themselves.
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GETTING READY
No.2 - Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School, China
Although Pinghe is a newer school, the academic achievements of its students prove that it is a top-notch6 learning institution. The school aims to merge7 the best aspects of Eastern and Western education styles, so there is an emphasis on both rote8 learning and ingenuity9. Pinghe employs teachers with diverse educational backgrounds as the school’s philosophy centers on training students to become high caliber10 world citizens. As with most schools in Asia, Pinghe uses many test-oriented11 teaching methods in the classrooms. This approach has aided the school’s students in entering many elite12 colleges around the globe.

No.3 - Brightworks School, United States
At Brightworks the cultivation13 of creativity14 is of the utmost15 importance, so there aren’t traditional classes. During the school year, students are introduced to several different themes, and then they work individually and in groups to explore and experiment with each topic. Unlike at other schools, at Brightworks the students are encouraged to question everything. This trains them to become independent thinkers, which will be valuable for them later in life. Applications to the school can be turned in online, but spots in the program fill up fast. Don’t wait too long to sign your child up for this amazing opportunity!
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WORD POWER
A. Listen Up
Take the quiz. Then use the chart on the right to determine what kind of learner you are.
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WORD POWER
Listen to the audio and decide what kind of learner Henry is. ______________
Henry is a tactile learner.
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WORD POWER
Henry: I’ve been having some trouble in my Spanish class, so I’ve decided to hire a tutor to help me. Remembering all the information I’m told in class is very difficult for me. I hope that my new tutor will be able to explain things to me in a way I’ll understand. We’ll meet for thirty-minute sessions at first because I think studying for more than that is agony.14 I wish Spanish was as easy for me as chemistry. I love that class because I get to do experiments with a lab partner almost every day. I find it really helpful when my chemistry teacher demonstrates15 how to do things, too.
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WORD POWER
B. Word Focus: Academic Subjects
Complete the chart with information about the following academic subjects.
the methods of recording and organizing financial data

the materials that make up the Earth’s surface

the meaning of life and morality

the way people behave in different groups
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WORD POWER
C. Speak Out Loud
Rank the qualities below from 1-5 (most important to least important) in terms of what you look for in a good teacher. Discuss the reasoning behind your rankings.
1. _____ prestigious10 educational background
2. _____ creative teaching methods
3. _____ well-organized and sticks to a schedule
4. _____ appreciative11 of students’ insights12
5. _____ focuses on methods for acing13 important exams
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CONVERSATION ZONE
（對話影片檔）
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Daniel: Hey, Carol. You look lost in thought.
Carol: I am. I ① _________1 applications for some study abroad opportunities, and there are two that I could go to. One is in Shanghai, and the other is in England. I don’t know which one to choose.
Daniel: How are you going to make up your mind?
Carol: I’m not sure. On the one hand, the education system in England is
② __________ 2 to the one here, so it’d be easy for me to adjust. On the other hand, it ought to be worthwhile trying something new and challenging3.
Daniel: I’m capable of shedding some light on what to expect in China. I received my primary schooling there.
Carol: Great! I’m all ears!
Comparing Educational Styles
CONVERSATION ZONE
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the choices given. Listen to check your answers.
submitted
comparable
Carol is wondering about the differences between Eastern and Western education.
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Daniel: First, education in China is very teacher-centered4, meaning the teacher will spend more time lecturing, and students are prohibited5 from
③ _________6 discussions.
Carol: That’s definitely7 a ④ _________8. I enjoy getting my classmates involved in debates. How else do they vary9?
Daniel: Eastern education also focuses on memorization10 and testing. You’ll do a great deal of exam ⑤ __________, and you’ll be tested frequently.
Carol: You must be relieved to not have to take so many tests now! Maybe I’ll just choose the program in England.
Daniel: I know it seems intimidating11, but you could enjoy being exposed to new methods of learning. ⑥ ____________12 your educational background has a lot of advantages.
Carol: Thanks for the advice. Now I’m not so mixed up about what to
⑦ _________13. I’ll contemplate14 this some more before I settle on a school.
CONVERSATION ZONE
initiating
drawback
preparation
Diversifying
anticipate
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CONVERSATION ZONE—REVIEW
A. Word Groups
Select the choice that has a different meaning from the word in bold.
1. challenging
a. demanding
b. manageable
c. tough
d. tiresome

2. prohibit
a. restrict
b. forbid
c. suppress
d. authorize
3. intimidate
a. terrify
b. menace
c. dismay
d. console

4. contemplate
a. deliberate
b. disregard
c. ponder
d. analyze
5. drawback
a. shortcoming
b. deficiency
c. asset
d. hurdle
(b)





(d)
(d)





(b)
(c)
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CONVERSATION ZONE—REVIEW
B. Understand from the Context
Match the sentences.
a
b
c
e
d
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CONVERSATION ZONE—REVIEW
C. Multiple Choice
Choose the answers.
1. What is Carol’s problem?
a. She must decide what school to send an application to.
b. She needs advice on which offer she should accept.
c. She has been told to settle on a major right away.
d. She is unable to memorize information without help.

2. Why is Daniel able to offer useful information to Carol?
a. He has worked as an educator in different regions.
b. He went to school in England before moving to Shanghai.
c. He has received an education in both the East and West.
d. He recently completed a semester abroad program.
(b)





(c)
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CONVERSATION ZONE—REVIEW
3. What does Carol dislike about education in China?
a. Students are discouraged from speaking in class.
b. The teaching style is comparable to that in England.
c. There are few test preparation classes available.
d. She is already used to that type of teaching.

4. Why does Carol think Daniel must be happier about school now?
a. He is much more prepared for tests than all of his classmates.
b. His teachers welcome questions from students during their lectures.
c. The frequency at which he receives examinations has gone down.
d. He is often asked to discuss the differences between China and England.
(a)





(c)
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1. Ever since I was informed that I wouldn’t be graduating on time, I’ve been _______________________.
2. I was so thrilled to be starting my job at the company that whenever my coworkers spoke to me I _______________
________________________.
3. When the newly elected mayor spoke to my class, we all _____________________ to him.
Fill in the expressions that fit best.
EXPRESSION SPOTLIGHT
A. Paying Attention
lost in thought / in a haze/fog
hung on their every word
was all ears /
gave our full attention
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EXPRESSION SPOTLIGHT
B. Giving Explanations
Rewrite the parts in bold using the expressions above.
1. I visited my college advisor because I needed her to answer some questions about the mistakes in my thesis.
→

2. I attended the extra study session because I didn’t really understand the material, but the things my classmates said just confused me more.
→
I visited my college advisor because I needed her to shed some light on the mistakes in my thesis.
I attended the extra study session because I didn’t really understand the material, but the things my classmates said just mixed me up / threw me off / muddied the waters more.
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Pair up with a classmate and answer the following questions using the expressions above.
EXPRESSION SPOTLIGHT
C. Choosing Something
1. If you had to choose between attending a university near your home and one across the country, how would you reach a decision?
→

2. Have you ever had a hard time making up your mind about something? What happened?
→
First, I would talk to my parents and consider their opinions before I settled on one university over the other.
Once, I was invited to go on a camping trip with my friends. I was unsure whether I would like it or not, so I didn’t give my friends an answer right away. In the end, I took the plunge and went with them because I figured it would be a good experience.
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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
A. Guess Who
Listen to the audio. Match each report card to the speaker (Jessica, Kyle, or Alan) to whom it most likely belongs.
Jessica
Kyle
Alan
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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Jessica: Wow, Kyle! I’m shocked by your math score.
Kyle: I’m not. I’m usually lost in thought following lunch, and since that class is at one o’clock, I pretty much expected this to happen.
Jessica: What about you, Alan?
Alan: I always give our math teacher my full attention, and I think my score shows that. How did you do in biology, Jessica?
Jessica: What do you think? It’s my favorite class!
Kyle: I wish I could hang on our biology teacher’s every word like you do. Maybe my score would have been the same as yours.
Alan: Don’t worry, Kyle. You definitely didn’t have other things on your mind in English.
Kyle: True. That’s the one class where I’m always all ears.
Jessica: And it shows! By looking at the scores Alan and I received, it seems like we were in a haze the whole time.
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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
B. Make Inferences
Listen to the audio. Check the appropriate inferences and include your reasons. Use the expressions you’ve learned if possible.
Ben is easily mixed up by basic information related to his work’s procedures.
Ben was thrown off by the new information, which wouldn’t happen if it had been the same.
She didn’t want to shed light on filling out the leave request papers, which was taught on Ben’s first day.
Ben has asked two different coworkers to break things down for him instead of just asking his boss.
Linda thinks it’s too hard to clear things up for Ben after he asks her to clarify what she said.



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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Ben: Linda, I’m having some trouble.
Linda: How can I help?
Ben: Could you clear up how I’m supposed to fill out this leave request form?
Linda: I thought you were taught that at orientation.
Ben: I was. Our manager explained it, but I forgot some steps. Then, I talked to Ryan, and he really mixed me up.
Linda: Well, I don’t want to muddy the waters more, so I think you should talk to our manager.
Ben: All right. Could you at least break down the reimbursement procedure for me? That wasn’t covered on my first day.
Linda: Sure. First, you need to wait and collect all of the receipts for the month. Once you put in the application, you can’t adjust it. Then you need to add a 3% bonus to any amount that was charged outside of the immediate area.
Ben: Wait, wait, wait! You threw me off with that last part.
Linda: Honestly, Ben. I think you should just redo your orientation!
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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
C. True or False
Select if the statements are true (T) or false (F).





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EXPRESSION PRACTICE
Clerk: Ma’am, can I help you with something?
Customer: Maybe. I’m trying to settle on what to get my boyfriend for his birthday.
Clerk: When I have a hard time making up my mind on a gift, I try to think about something the person really needs.
Customer: That’s a good idea. I know he needs some gloves for the winter.
Clerk: Perfect. We have a large selection of those over here.
Customer: They do look nice, but I’m not sure if I should take the plunge.
Clerk: What other ideas did you have?
Customer: Originally, I was going to get him either a video game or a new badminton racket. In fact, I’ve reached my decision and know what I will get him now. Sorry for wasting your time, but I need to visit a different store.
Clerk: I understand. Once I take it into my head to buy something, that’s exactly what I’ll get, too.
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GRAMMAR ESSENTIALS
Modal Verbs
Modal verbs always work in conjunction with other verbs, and they are used for concepts such as ability, permission, and certainty.
A. Usage
In some cases, the use of a modal verb is similar to another verb tense or phrase.
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GRAMMAR ESSENTIALS
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GRAMMAR ESSENTIALS
B. Certainty vs. Possibility
Some modal verbs are used to express that something is possible but not completely certain.
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GRAMMAR ESSENTIALS
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GRAMMAR WORKOUT
A. Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the sentences with an appropriate modal verb. Some questions may have more than one possible answer.
1. There is a possibility that Maggie will be late again since her car is still being repaired.
 →


2. Tourists in Singapore have to remember that people are prohibited from chewing gum there.
 →


3. I’m sure Sharon is pleased with the amount of support she received from the community.
 →
Maggie might/may/could be late again since her car is still being repaired.

Tourists in Singapore have to remember that people can’t chew gum there.

Sharon must be pleased with the amount of support she received from the community.
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4. Based on when snow began to fall last year, we will likely see some before December.
 →


5. There is a chance that Owen will receive a scholarship, but he’s saving money in case he doesn’t.
 →


6. Timothy was permitted to apply for a raise after working at the company for a year.
 →
GRAMMAR WORKOUT
Based on when snow began to fall last year, we should / ought to see some before December.

Owen could/may/might receive a scholarship, but he’s saving money in case he doesn’t.

Timothy could apply for a raise after working at the company for a year.
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1. If you have any questions about the project, you _______ speak to your teacher.
2. You _______ be disappointed if you don’t reserve a table in advance. The restaurant is often full.
3. Renee _______ not remember her classmate’s phone number, so she e-mailed him instead.
4. I have no time to help you with that today, but I know Ellen _______ give you a hand.
5. Ian had a large cake and some cards on his desk. It _______ be his birthday today.
GRAMMAR WORKOUT
B. Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with modal verbs from the box. Each word can only be used once.
should
might
could
can
must
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GRAMMAR WORKOUT
C. Match
Match the question with the most appropriate response.
e
d
b
c
f
a
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a. Children are more likely to succeed if they follow their parents’ advice.
b. Some parents believe that being strict is the best way to help their children.
c. Parents force their children to study only when they are doing poorly in school.
d. The typical Chinese parenting style is too shocking for Americans.
e. Most parents agree that aggressive parenting styles are too harmful to use.
READING─PRE-READING TASK
P. 37
Scan the article below. Based on the information you find, what would be a good summary of the piece?
(b)





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READING
Back to PRE-READING TASK
嚴厲的愛

　　父母對於孩子的教育應該介入多深呢？在西方普遍的做法是不太去干涉，讓青少年去學習能夠激發興趣並培養啟發個人技能的事物。然而，在其他地方，相反的情況卻是基本規範。當蔡美兒於二０一一年出版其書籍《虎媽戰歌》，全球得以一窺東方父母的教養方式，幾乎是全面掌控了孩子生活的每個層面。
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READING
　蔡美兒曾就讀於哈佛大學，取得學士與法學士學位。目前她是耶魯大學法學院的教授。她能傳遞如何在學校表現良好的知識是無可辯駁的，而她也是這樣教導她的女兒。從年紀還小的時候，蘇菲亞和露易莎就要遵守嚴格的時間表，花時間去讀書而沒有其他太多娛樂。她們不被允許看電視或擁有玩樂的時候，或是選擇自己的課外活動。
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READING
　根據蔡美兒所說，這在中國父母之中是很普遍的做法。她引用自己書中的一項研究，其中70％受訪的西方母親相信讓學習有樂趣比孩子實際的課業表現更加重要。在此研究中的中國母親則都不贊同。她們認為孩子的在校成績與母親的教養能力有直接的關連。如果孩子無法成功，就是母親逼得不夠緊而造成的疏失。蔡美兒也宣稱中國父母參與孩子課內活動的時間是西方父母的十倍，西方父母較多是鼓勵孩子從事運動。
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READING
雖然蔡美兒的教育方式對於考試成績肯定有助益，但有些人認為那可能對情緒健康有害。她的書籍出版後，德西蕾‧秦教授決定進行她自己的研究。她觀察紐約最具競爭力的其中一所高中，發現中國學生普遍比其西方同學不快樂。來自父母的壓力導致亞洲家庭中很明顯地有更多的衝突，而這些學生在學校時較為沮喪和焦慮。秦教授相信，蔡美兒所認可那樣具侵略性的教養方式造成太多問題，以致於不像其他方式一樣容易獲得贊同。
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READING
　沒有兩個人是一樣的，也沒有兩種教養方式是相同的。可能永遠不會有最絕對的方式能保證孩子高人一等，但培養出不只在學校、也在個人生活中都面面俱到的個體，肯定是有價值的。
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1. Our debate team is currently meeting with their _____________ from three other schools to discuss an upcoming event. (something or someone with the same purpose or job)
2. Irene tried to __________ a love of literature in her children by reading classic novels to them frequently. (to aid in the development of something)
3. Many of the world’s top universities prefer accepting ____________ students over those who only focused on achieving high grades. (having a variety of experiences)
4. Military organizations are well-known for having __________ guidelines that members of the armed forces must follow. (strict and not easily changed)
5. If you hope to join that __________ club, you’ll need to have excellent references from important people in the community. (very careful about what is chosen)
6. Many agree that living in a place with pleasant weather __________ with higher feelings of happiness. (be connected in some way)
READING─AFTER YOU READ
A. Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of words from the article. Use the hints to help you.
counterparts
foster
well-rounded
rigid
selective
correlates
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READING─AFTER YOU READ
B. Fill in the Missing Letters
Complete the passage with words from the article.
Cheating is a problem that has been around  v__________ as long as schools have. In the past, peeking at a neighbor’s test when the teacher wasn’t looking was the  p__________ method, but now using the Internet as a cheating aid is the  n__________. Modern students seem to
 e__________ at finding papers online to turn in as if they were their own,
and teachers can have a hard time recognizing when they are being fooled. With cheating methods evolving so quickly in a short amount of time, educators are becoming very concerned about what
 a____________ will be doing in the future to skip out on doing their own work.
virtually
prevailing
norm
excel
adolescents
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READING─AFTER YOU READ
C. Comprehension Check
Answer the questions.
Amy Chua received two degrees from Harvard and teaches at Yale, which are very prestigious universities, so she has experience with studying effectively.
According to Chua, Western mothers focus more on making learning enjoyable, while Chinese mothers believe they must pressure their children to do well in school.
Qin believes that Chua’s parenting style is detrimental to children because it diminishes their feelings of happiness and makes them depressed and anxious.
Chua’s studies focused on mothers and their views on how their children should be educated, while Qin researched the children and how they felt about their lives.
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WRITING SKILLS
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WRITING SKILLS
Task
A Venn diagram is a set of overlapping circles that is used to indicate the relationship between different things. Fill in the Venn diagram below to show the similarities and differences between the two topics.
_________
_________
_________
_________
Attend Local University
Attend Foreign University
d
g
j
e
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
a
f
k
c
b
i
l
h
a. receive an education
b. learn or improve another language
c. have many degree options
d. can live at home
e. stay close to former classmates
f. earn a diploma
g. be in a familiar environment
h. experience how people in other
cultures live
i. could get homesick
j. used to the educational styles
k. lots of homework and exams
l. should gain more independence
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WRITING SKILLS─BEFORE YOU WRITE
Fill in the Venn diagram below with information regarding private and public schools in your country.
‧ rarely have teachers with advanced degrees

‧ schools must follow the state curriculum
‧ prepare students for life after school
‧ teachers are likely to be master’s and PhD degree holders

‧ teachers can create their own curriculums

‧ expensive tuition
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WRITING SKILLS─WRITE IT UP
Write a 160-word comparison and contrast essay about private and public schools in your country. Include the modal verb usages you’ve learned.
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WRITING SKILLS─WRITE IT UP
How Private and Public Schools Compare in My Country

Introduction:
If a person wants to obtain a high-school education in America, he or she can either attend a private or public school.

Body:
At private schools, students must pay for their attendance, and it can cost thousands of dollars a semester! However, it is generally believed that private schools provide a superior education. For one thing, the teachers are likely to be master’s and PhD degree holders because private schools are able to attract them with higher salaries. Also, private schools can create their own curriculums and do not need to adhere to ones designed by the government. Unfortunately, not many students are able to attend private schools because of the high cost.
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Every person under the age of 18 is permitted to receive free public schooling in America. Many complain about the quality of education at public schools, though. Because the wages given to teachers are mandated by the government, public schools can’t afford teachers with advanced degrees. Also, the schools are forbidden from ignoring the state curriculum. If they do, they risk being shut down. Although not always perfect, at least public schools are accessible to everyone.

Conclusion:
There are many differences between private and public schooling in America, but they both educate the country’s young people so that they are capable of going out into the real world.
WRITING SKILLS─WRITE IT UP
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The End