Schools USA and Canada

Being in the Northern hemisphere, the school year starts in September and ends in June.

Canada has a decentralised system of education, similar to the states and territories in Australia. In Canada each province and territory is responsible for the educational standards.

In the US a Common Core was developed in 2010 by the National Governors Association, working with the Council of Chief State School Officers. It details what K–12 students throughout the United States should know in English language arts and mathematics at the conclusion of each school grade.

Year Levels

Canada
Primary School is Grades 1 to 8 and Secondary School is Grades 9 to 12. Except in Quebec, where Secondary School is Grades 7 to 11.

USA
Primary or elementary school: Age 6 to age 11 or 12 (Grades 1-6). Some advanced students can go to Middle School after Grade 4.

Middle School Grades 5 to 8

Junior High School Grades 7-8 (or since 1980) Grades 7-9

High School Grades 9-12 (age 17 or 18) and are commonly referred to as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior.

University College (minimum age 17 years): Freshman, Sophomore, Middler, Junior, Senior (Age 18-22)
It provides the student with an undergraduate degree, such as an Associate or Bachelor's degree.

Subsequently the student can undertake postgraduate study, once they have completed an undergraduate degree or have equivalent work experience. Postgraduate courses include Graduate Diploma, Master and PhD.

History of Harvard University

One of the US's oldest universities. Started as Harvard College (to train Congregationalist clergy)

• 1635: John Harvard received his M.A. from Cambridge University, England.
• 1636: First College in American colonies founded. The “Great and General Court of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England” approves £400 for the establishment of “a schoale or colledge”.
• 1637: The Great and General Court orders the “colledge” established one year earlier to be located at Newetowne (renamed “Cambrige” in 1638).
• 1638: John Harvard wills his library (400 books) and half his estate to the College.
• 1639: In recognition of John Harvard’s bequest, the Great and General Court orders “that the colledge agreed upon formerly to bee built at Cambridg shalbee called Harvard Colledge.”
• 1640: Reverend Henry Dunster is appointed first president of Harvard.
• 1642: First Harvard Commencement with nine graduates.
• 1649: The Town of Cambridge and President Henry Dunster give Harvard the “College Farm” at Billerica, Massachusetts, which paid annual rent to the College until the farm was sold in 1775.
• 1780: The Massachusetts Constitution went into effect and officially recognized Harvard as a university. The first medical instruction given to Harvard students in 1781 and the founding of the Medical School in 1782 made it a university in fact as well as name.

"Statue of Three Lies"
a humorous tradition from summer.harvard.edu

1. That isn’t John Harvard.
   Even though the name “John Harvard” is written in stone on the statue’s base, the likeness is not, actually, that of John Harvard. In fact, there are no living representations of John Harvard. In 1884, Daniel Chester French created the famous statue, and Sherman Hoar sat as a model for the head of John Harvard. Hoar later went on to serve as a member of Congress and a US district attorney
2. John Harvard wasn’t the founder of Harvard University. What? Yes, that’s right. The engraving on the statue states “founder,” but this is also not true. Actually, Harvard didn’t even attend the College. He was the first major benefactor to the University. He donated half of his estate and his library, which consisted of over 400 books, in 1638.
3. Harvard wasn’t founded in 1638.
   Close, but no cigar. Harvard University was founded in 1636. This gives Harvard the honor of being the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Harvard was originally called the New College. And its mission was to train clergy. Harvard received its official famous name on March 13, 1639, named for the renowned benefactor seated in “lies.” Harvard University was officially founded by a vote by the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636. Named as Harvard College in 1639.

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