Ireland vs USA
Observed differences between Irish secondary education and American high school education. All statements pertain to Scoil Muire agus Padraig in Swinford, Ireland and are not meant to be a blanket generalization.
Ireland
USA
Classes
Class size can range between 3 and 25 students. Classes change location and time. Classes look like they're scattered across the week. Classes are 40 minutes long, and they occur at different times on different days. You may have a class twice a week -once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Bells signal the end of class. Classes are organized by year.
Classes
Most class sizs are about 30 students. Classes typically have the same room and time. They also occur at regular intervals like block, skinny, or A/B day. Classes typically range between 55 minutes to an hour and a half. Bells signal the end of classes. Classes can be organized by grade, but there's still bleed over.
Teacher Rooms
Teachers can have the same room, but it's shared with other teachers. For example, many of the history teachers use the same room. Teachers can also fluctuate across rooms depending on the topic of classes. As a result, you can see an amalgamation of student work from a strange range of topics on the classroom walls. Students also move rooms.
Teacher Rooms
Teachers typically have their own personal rooms that they stay in the whole day. Students move from class to class.
Room 1.9
Mrs. Gupton's Room
Dress Code
Students wear strict unifroms to school, and they get marks if they don't comply
Dress Code
Students either have a standard school attire or a relaxed dress code. They are asked to change or given other clothes if they don't comply.
Technology
Technology isn't as present in the classroom. Most classrooms at our school are equipt with a computer for the teacher and a projector. Students don't use laptops unless they require an accommodation due to injury or translations, and phones aren't present. There are rarely clocks provided in the classroom.
Technology
Technology is very present in the classroom. Teachers have multiple monitors, projectors, TVs, or smart boards. Students do a 1:1 laptop arrangement, and notes are typically typed. Phones are a major problem in the classroom. Clocks are typically present (might not always work).
Attendance
Since our school is so small (~325 students), roll is taken on paper by the school secretary as students enter in the morning. To make sure students aren't skipping, teachers are given a list of absent students.
Attendance
Roll is taken in each class online by the teacher. Teachers can compare absences from previous classes to determine if someone is skipping.
Education Level
Secondary school is divided into junior cycle and senior cycle. Students are in years while in secondary school. Junior cycle is Years 1-3. Students say, "I'm in Year 2." Year 4 is used as a gap or internship year. Senior cycle is Years 5 and 6. Students are also in classes, so Year 1 Class A, B, or C. They attend classes as a year or class-year
Education Level
High school is Grades 9-12, also called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. Students say, "I'm in 10th Grade." Students mix and match grade levels with classes.
Supplies
The expected supplies for students to have are notebooks, pens, workbooks, and textbooks. The notebooks are like large sheets of paper folded in half and stapled down the spine. Most students use the pens with multiple colors in one, and you push levers to change the colors. The workbooks align with the textbook content.
Supplies
The expected supplies for students to have are notebooks, pencils, a possible pen, laptop, and charger. Notebooks are spiraled down the spine. Most students use mechaical pencils and only use pens if required. Textbooks typically stay in classrooms, as they are only a class set. Laptops are used mainly for notes and projects.
Para-Professionals
Para-professionals occasionally sit in on classes. Most ELL students aren't transitioned into class and only rely on Microsoft Translate or the SayHi App.
Para-Professionals
Para-professionals typically sit in on classes, but it's not a guarantee. ELL students must pass through several levels of testing and classes to join regular level classes. They also have para-professionals.
Exams
Summer exams are very important to student's success throughout secondary school. All lessons, practice work, and class tests are geared towards perfecting the summer exams. Exams can also be graded on proper presentation like nice handwriting and clean drawings.
Exams
There are state exams for core classes towards the end of the semester. However, the exams chosen by the teachers tend to carry more weight. GPA is key to success for high school students. State exams are tossed out on occasion due to problems in delivery. The closest comparison are AP Exams.
Lessons
Lessons typically consist of just reading from the textbook as a class or teacher-led. At the end of class, practice questions from the textbook are assigned. PowerPoints might be shown, but they only consist of words. Topics can dive into a wide variety of things from politics, sex ed, to race. The examples used in class typically relate to Ireland and/or tensions with the UK.
Lessons
Lessons consist of a variety of things from PowerPoints, reading, drawing, projects, group research, hands-on activities, documentaries, short videos, Kahoots, Blickets, etc. Lessons are more student-centered and offer a variety of activities to learn from. Topics are limited, as many content areas can't be discussed, and many books are banned. Examples relate to US culture, but often bring in the ethnic backgrounds of students.
Discipline
Discipline is rare, and typically not effective. If students are talking, a simple, "shhhh" is the only comment you'll hear from the teacher. Back talk is occasionally engaged, and students aren't sent to the principal often. A phone call to parents isn't a common threat either.
Discipline
Discipline is a major aspect of American classrooms. Teachers must shut down behavior early via private conversations in the hallway, visits to the principal, phone calls to parents, and immediate correction of poor behavior or comments.
Lunch
There is one 40 minute lunch period. Students are allowed to leave the school building for lunch, and they leave their backpacks at the front door to ensure their return.
Lunch
Multiple 30 minute lunch periods are needed to accommodate for the larger student body. Students can't leave the school building for lunch, as it's a security risk.
Sports
School sanctioned sports occur during school hours. For example, the boys Gaelic game began at 11:30, and players missed a majority of the school day. This is done to allow players to take part in club teams after school.
Sports
School sanctioned sports occur after school hours. For example, boys football and basketball games start around 6-7 pm. Students almost never miss class time to attend their games.
Approval
When students provide satisfactory answers, the most common responses are, "brilliant," and, "good girl!" The second of which coud land an American teacher in hot water.
Approval
When students provide satisfactory answers, the most common responses are, "great job," and something like, "you've got it!"
Security
Security isn't a major focus of school admin. The only drill practiced is a fire drill every few weeks or so. All the doors to classrooms are unlocked.
Security
Security is the biggest focus of school admin. Fire, natural weather, bomb, and shooting drills are practiced regularly. Police are a constant presence in US schools. All doors in the school are locked at all times.