Branson High School impressions

Today I want to talk about school. I’m visiting Branson School located in Ross (outside the city) and I have to say that it’s one of the best experiences of my life. Branson is a very expensive school and thus does not set the American education standard, because for a lot of families a private school like Branson is impossible to finance. Keeping that in mind, the school campus is super nice. It has a beautiful library with a fireplace and couches, the art department is very well equipped and the campus is generally very well looked after and clean.

The honor code is that astonishing mind set of students and teachers and really blew me away. Leaving backpacks on the campus, laptops on the table and wallets with cash unattended is no problem, and you really don’t have to worry about it being stolen. The lessons are far more based on technology and network than in Switzerland. The exercises are all stored on the intranet and students can solve them or have a look at the reading assignment on their iPads and Macbooks.

Another difference is the schedule, because students can choose all their classes (of course having limitations and ground rules) and thus create a much more individual and personal schedule, exactly fitting their needs and interests. That also means that your classmates change every lesson, which can be good if you want to know as much students as possible but it also means that you’re not as close to your classmates as maybe we are in Switzerland.

I personally like the American system much better, where you chose your lessons and know almost all the kids at your school. Because at KEN we maybe see other students in the hallway or Facebook but you only really know your classmates. Now the student-teacher relationship is also quite different. It’s much more considerate and friendly, what makes the lessons much more relaxed, personal and interactive. Generally people, be it students or teachers, are very friendly and welcoming, always trying to include us to make our stay and school experience very enjoyable and profiting. It seems like the school is very focused on all the individuals and tries to not only educate them in knowledge and skills but also in reason, behavior, moral and decency, which I think is sometimes left out a little bit in our schools. (SB)