American High School vs. Dutch High School
I am a Dutch exchange student who’s been experiencing American high school for quite some time now. In this article, I’ll tell you some differences I have experienced so far. Although American and Dutch high schools are both to educate young people, there are quite some big differences.
The first one I noticed right away is the sports and clubs. Dutch high schools do not offer any sports or clubs; youth sports are organized through independent local community clubs outside of school instead. And if you want to join any club, you will have to go to neighborhood youth centers. But here in America, sports and clubs are a very important part of high school life. Students can join a team and represent their school in competitions against other schools. These games can attract many students and parents. Also, American schools offer many different clubs, and they are a common way to meet new people and talk with other students who are interested in the same thing. It’s a good way to connect with students from the school.
The second difference is the American school spirit. The spirit shows the pride, unity, community, and support for a school’s teams. There are a lot of traditions like Pep Rallies, Spirit week, Friday night lights, school dances, mascots, and colors. Unlike a Dutch high school, where we unfortunately don’t have any of this. American schools usually have more of these traditions and activities. In Dutch high schools, students generally do not have the same strong connection to their school as students from American schools.
About the school days themselves, in the Netherlands you can choose your schedule for yourself. You can pick classes you like or need for your future. This way, the schedule varies every day. What I like about this is that I have some days when I start school at noon and some days when I end my school day at noon. However, at an American high school, you have the same schedule and classes every single day. American schools often start relatively early in the morning, and after school most people participate in clubs or sports.
Overall, I notice that people at an American high school are way more engaged than the Dutch. American high schools seem to focus more on school spirit, sports, clubs, and activities. On the other hand, Dutch schools focus more on education and independence. Both systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. I find the American school spirit interesting because it creates a strong sense of community. Though I like that Dutch schools have more freedom and your schedule varies from day to day. But personally, I find the American school better: it is more fun, and people are way more engaged. There is a fun, friendly atmosphere, and as a student, you feel more connected to the school.
