Kids in America

While all kids around the world think about having fun as well as having to do daily chores, American kids can enjoy living in a country with one of the highest standards of living.

It is not uncommon to be driving at 16 in a bashed up Mustang or even a top of the range Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

Most American kids of every background, race and religion are brought up to work hard at school and sports with the aim of having an equal opportunity at the highest jobs. Certainly Barack Obama has shown that anything is possible if you do what it takes.

In fact most American kids grow up dreaming either of being a great sports celebrity or to have their own business where they can be the boss, work few hours and still makes lots of money.

Kids in America are brought up to take school seriously and many are pushed hard by their parents to get 'A's in every subject as well as do well in sport.

The lessons are the same format every single day with just occasionally variation when there are double periods. The concentration is on the core subjects of Maths and English but all subjects are arranged to create 'rounded individuals' with discipline in being on time and understanding civil responsibility.

The school system is almost completely based on continuous assessment unlike schools in Europe or other parts of the world where the exam at the end is the most critical part of the final grade.

The kids 'graduate' at the end of high school and then go off to college or university often well away from their home town.

The US Department of Education

Useful links:

Student loans, forgiveness
Pell grants
Accreditation, schools
Grants
No Child Left Behind

Throughout the school year students are prepared for threats by practicing the school lock down.

A school lock down is when students, teachers, and staff are confined to their rooms with the windows boarded, doors locked and the children sitting in the corner as out of sight as possible.

This procedure is practiced regularly in the US and Canada so that the kids are ready for any real situation including those tragic times we hear about on the news when a former student returns with weapons to kill students and teachers.

All Americans take their sports very seriously. For most non-Americans it is strange to hear a young woman talking passionately about how well the local team has done and details of a particular players scoring record. This is usually the mens domain in the rest of the world.

For a country with growing obesity it is strange that the school curriculum does not actually include sport. The games occur after school and through weekends and holidays. Most children do join and the parents have to pay a great deal extra for kids to take part as well as for the essential kit.

The sports teams are managed in an excellent manner which encourages teamwork, dedication and self discipline. Although the kids often moan about how much it takes from their free time, it is actually a great way to get healthy and learn important skills for the adult life to come.

"If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all." This statement, by author and activist Pearl S. Buck, reminds us that the safety and well-being of America's children are crucial to the wellbeing of the entire country.

Americas Children - How are they doing?

Kids from other parts of the world find the laws in America very strict.

In England the drinking age is 18 and much of the rest of the world allows drinking at lower ages.

In America the kids cant legally drink until they are 21. Parents have to be very careful not to offer drink to under 21s even in their own homes.
Of course you will find them drinking well before that, mostly in secret, but there are no late night clubs full of rowdy teenagers like there is in England and some parts of Europe.

Driving, however, starts younger than some other countries. Here they can take their test at 16 and be out on the open roads. The test is very simple and short - it is almost seen as a 'right of passage' when you get to 16.
Of course in America, everything is so spread out that it is essential to be able to drive everywhere. In some ways letting the kids drive earlier at least releases the parents from having to drop the kids off everywhere!

There are restrictions. At 16 you can only drive either alone or with an adult driver. You cant go taking your friends out for drives until later.

Curfews. Yes there are curfews for kids! You cant be out after 11 if you are under 18.

Drugs seem to be everywhere in America. The kids are often banned from school or just found hiding round corners smoking 'weed'.

They are much less likely to get drunk on alcohol than, say, their English cousins, but almost every teenage kid seems to need a smoke of cannabis to get through the day. The favorite method seems to be smoked as marijuana in a cigar roll or through a 'bong' pipe.

This would be bad enough but the reason its so prevalent appears to be due to the fact that the parents do it too!

There is much debate as to whether to legalize it or not.

Looking out a dirty old window.
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by.
I sit here alone and I wonder why.

Friday night and everyone's moving.
I can feel the heat but it's soothing.
Heading down, I search for the beat in this dirty town.

Down town the young ones are going.
Down town the young ones are growing.

We're the kids in America.
We're the kids in America.
Everybody live for the music-go-round.

Bright lights the music get faster.
Look boy, don't check on your watch, not another glance.
I'm not leaving now, honey not a chance.

Hot-shot, give me no problems.
Much later baby you'll be saying never mind.
You know life is cruel, life is never kind.

Kind hearts don't make a new story.
Kind hearts don't grab any glory.

We're the kids in America.
We're the kids in America.
Everybody live for the music-go-round.

Come closer, honey that's better.
Got to get a brand new experience.
Feeling right.
Oh don't try to stop baby.
Hold me tight.

Outside a new day is dawning.
Outside Suburbia's sprawling everywhere.
I don't want to go baby.
New York to East California.
There's a new wave coming I warn you.

We're the kids in America.
We're the kids in America.
Everybody live for the music-go-round.

We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America