2. Methods
I tried to explain to my
participants that they
should be as honest as
possible and exploit both
systems for how they
actually make students feel.
When replying they did
just as I asked. The
environment, in the study
room at Maxcy, remained
the same and I conducted
the interviews back to back
on a Friday afternoon. The
interviews were all short
and lacked good dialogue
but the answers were
enough to draw a
conclusion.
3. Bias
The bias involved in this
ethnography is interesting
because I am bias towards
American education and
my participants were bias
towards European
education. Despite these
biases the questions were
geared well towards a
mutual response. The
respondents showed bias
in a few areas of their
answers but for the most
part the seemed split in
the comparison.
4. Knowing Your Path
One issue that seemed to
repeat in the responses was
that students in America
are not pushed to realize
their path in life until after
most of their adolescent
years. Interestingly, in
Europe, they try to get
students to decide what are
of study they wish to
pursue at a much earlier
stage in life. High school in
Europe is practically a mini
college because students
are already learning
material necessary in their
field of interest.
5. Social Life
An interesting answer
came from one respondent
recognizing the difference
in social life as a direct
effect on the difference in
education. The student
pointed out the main
popular pass time in
college is drinking.
Although in America it is
illegal at such an early age.
This student believes
adding that extra stress to
the student’s educational
process does not help them
in the classroom.
6. In interviewing these students I saw the minor
differences students notice when exposed to both
American and European education. Overall there
seems to be a slight favoritism for European education.
The students seemed to appreciate the fact that their
education is slightly more emphasized at an earlier
age and they are granted more freedoms and
responsibilities as younger students. This however is
based on the answers of three European students, so
the answers and mood of the study is bias to Europe.
Perhaps the Educational systems are quite in sync with
one another despite the minor differences and
problems seen when comparing American and
European education.
