Quote Originally Posted by devochka
Just to check if I understand the difference correctly: public schools in the US are government-funded and private schools aren't, right?
Basically, Yes.

Quote Originally Posted by devochka
Can private schools choose what they want to teach or do they still have to adhere to a set curriculum to which they can add stuff?
Each state has their own set of graduation requirements. So for Maryland, were I live, you need to have the following classes in order to graduate High School:
  • English 4 credits (and pass High School Assessment Exam)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Mathematics 4 credits (1 credit algebra, 1 credit geometry & pass High School Assessment Exam for Algebra)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Science 3 credits (1 biology credit and 2 that include a laboratory & High School Assessment Exam for Biology) [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Social Studies 3 credits (1 U.S. History credit; 1 World History credit; and 1 National, State, and Local Government credit & High School Assessment Exam for Gorvernment) [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Health Education 0.5 credit [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Physical Education 0.5 credit [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Fine Arts 1 credit (Selected courses in art, dance, drama/theater, and music)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Technology Education 1 credit[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • Foreign Language 2 credits[/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • 2.5 credits in elective courses [/*:m:1uowv5rl]
  • AND service learning hours or community service (in our area it is 75 hours)[/*:m:1uowv5rl]


Now as long as the student has taken these core classes, the school can then offer other classes (electives) or teach in the style they see fit.

Example: the school my daughters attend is a performing and visual arts school. All of the classes are taught with the arts in mind. So instead of doing maybe your usual boring book report, they might write a new ending to the book, create a play from that new ending, research the style of music and wardrobe from that time period and actually produce the play. That would cover their English, Social Studies & Art or Music classes all for this one project as they would work with all of those teachers on the same project. Or do a mock trial of Caesar in full costume, again, coordinating with different teachers and across different subjects.

So private schools and public schools have a lot a room to teach what they would like as long as they get the main core stuff out of the way and keep the "test scores" up and the parents happy.

Quote Originally Posted by devochka
So religion is never taught in public schools?
I would not say NEVER. I remember last year in 7th grade old daughter had "ONE" lesson that covered different religions in her Social Studies (or as it used to be called "history") class.
But pretty much, the answer for where we live, is no. Now in private schools, that would be a yes.

Quote Originally Posted by devochka
Is sex-ed a subject on itself or is it part of biology class? Students don't have to take exams about the subject matter? Can't the school argue that birth control is related to biology? I mean, they could teach the kids what it is and the effect it has on the body (I'm talking about the pill of course) and remain neutral about using or not using it. That way the students know what it is, what it does and they can choose for themselves.
Health Education is a seperate class. It is taught as a semester or 1/4 of a semester class. It goes into taking care of the body as a whole. Eating right, physical fitness as to how it is important, sleeping well, and then of course all the information about sex-ed. Each year prior to the courses starting they allow parents to come in and see the course materials and speak to the instructors. Ask questions and such. I always thought that in the beginning they should have the classes gender seperated and with gender like teachers. I know my girls did not like having the boys in the class and they had male teachers the first couple of years. It just made them all feel weirded out. Later on, they could then merge the classes back to co-ed.
I looked online at the course information for 10th grade Biology and it seems to focus much more on plants and cells than humans! It seems there might be "some" wiggle room in the course for chats about humans and evolution.

Quote Originally Posted by devochka
So back to the two main types of schools. In Catholic schools, obviously, religion is taught. Children in Belgium go to Catholic schools not because they (or their parents) are very religious, but mostly because those schools are sometimes considered better than the government-funded schools...
The area I live in is rather "odd" as Montgomery County is a very good school district and people move here just so their children can attend school. So then the richer people don't want to have their children go to school with the "lower class" people. So they have their kids go to private school. We have sooooo many private schools around here... take your pick! Here are just a couple

http://www.dswashington.org/ The German School
http://www.rochambeau.org/ Lycée Rochambeau
http://www.cesjds.org/ Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
http://www.stoneridge.org/ Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Catholic & for girls ONLY)
http://www.sidwell.edu/ Sidwell Friends School (Quaker and where the President's daughters attend)
http://www.britishschool.org/washington The British School


Quote Originally Posted by devochka
Than there are jewish (Chassidic) schools. I recently heard about a school for Protestant pupils. Unlike the Catholic schools, they are very focused on religion. They also only teach creationism. And there have been talks about opening a school for Muslims. In the beginning of the school year there was a heated debate about Muslim girls wearing the hijab to school so all of a sudden imams were talking about opening schools just for Muslim girls where they could wear the hijab.
As you can see from above, we have a number of school where the religion is very focused. About the hijab... that is the only head covering ALLOWED in "our" public schools. No other hats or scarfs.