Two Schools I Had Ever Attended

張貼日期：May 23, 2016 12:49:50 PM

Sharon Lee

I had studied in two different high schools when I was a high school student. One is Westborough High School in Massachusetts, USA; the other is Keelung Girls Senior High School (KLGSH) located in Taiwan. The reason why I went to two high schools was because my family and I had emigrated to the US in the beginning, but because of some reasons we were forced to get back. We stayed there for only half a year and I only attended Westborough High School for one semester. After I came back and joined the high school in Taiwan, I found out something totally different between these two schools.

In Westborough High School, perhaps all American schools, we can choose any course, depending on our ability. We have to take six courses, and we only need to attend five courses a day. Because I was not a local student, I had to take two ESL lessons to integrate my English learning with Math, History, and Health. The most interesting thing I remember was that the Health teacher taught us how to use condom during the class. I think this is the biggest difference between sex educations in Taiwan and in the US. In Taiwan, teachers always avoid talking about “sex” in the class, no matter how old we are, but I think to teach the subject is better for all the students. Not like schools in Taiwan, classes are ended at two o’clock and students can have their spare time for association after two. They care about not only mental development, but also physical health. The last but the most impressive thing is we have to vow in front of the national flag in the classroom in the morning. Every day before the first course starts, the school’s speakers will be on and students will all stand up for the vow. I cannot remember exactly what we have to say, but the last six words are “with liberty and justice for all.” To me, that’s an unforgettable experience.

In Keelung Girls Senior High School, just like all the high schools in Taiwan, the timetables are all arranged by the school. We have eight classes per day and two hours for each course. After we study all these courses for a day, it’s almost five in the afternoon. In the school, we seldom have our own spare time. We only have two classes per week for our association time. If we need more, we have to sacrifice our lunch break. Different from American parents, parents in Taiwan don’t like their children spending too much time on their social activities. They think to attend associations is useless. We are required to put our entire mind on studying. When I was in KLGSH, I spent my entire lunch break for socializing with others. In Taiwan, we usually have to go to cram school after school, perhaps not going there out of our free will.

Above all, I think studying in Westborough is more enjoyable than studying in KLGSH. It’s freer not only for learning, but also for developing our independent thinking. We can know ourselves more by choosing the courses we want. If I can have a chance to choose for my child, I will choose an American high school like Westborough for him/her. I think it is not only good for the child, but also good for the parents. I think the way of education in Taiwan will never be like what I had experienced in Westborough High School.