In message , Wolf K
writes:
On 2018-06-29 01:53, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Char Jackson
writes:
[]
I'm not a language/grammar geek, so it's entirely possible that my usage
is wrong, as well. I went to Public School.

Even there, you can't escape the "two nations divided by a common
language" matter!
What I think is called a public school, or the public school system,
in the USA, is called a state school, or other terms, in the UK.

"Public school" in the USA and Canada usually means primary and usually
also middle school (years K to 8). It's often is used in contrast to
faith-based schools. The upper grades are "high school".

I guess we'd say secondary school for the 11 (sometimes 13) to 16/18
part, but on the whole we rarely use the qualifiers, just saying school.

Grammar is taught in public school. High school English/Language
curricula generally assume knowledge of that grammar. It's very badly
taught, mixing grammar and usage indiscriminately, and using
conflicting and sometimes incorrect linguistic concepts. The result is
[]
You remind me of another matter, "grammar schools" - a matter which
raises much political heat here in the UK. They're mainly state-funded
schools, generally perceived (by both sides of the debate, though their
opponents hate to admit it) as providing a better standard; I'm not
_sure_ what differentiates them from other state-funded schools, though
I _think_ it's selection (i. e. there is an entrance examination, and
those who fail to reach some level go to other schools, which used to be
called "comprehensive" or "secondary modern", though there has been
fragmentation of late, with some being called things like "academy"
[though grammar schools can be academies too, I think]). The main
confusion in the name is that the teaching of (English) grammar, as
such, is _not_ nominally any different between grammar schools and
not-grammar schools (though I imagine it once might have been for the
name to have come about).

In the UK, "public school" usually means the ones (mostly) attended
by the privileged - i. e. fee-paying. (The well-known ones like Eton
and Harrow, but really any fee-paying one.) I've never been sure why
we call them "public schools" - I think the argument might be that
they are _open_ to any member of the public who can afford the fees,
though if that _is_ the argument it's a weak one, since many have
entrance exam.s.

IIRC, they were called "public" in contrast to the schools run by the
church. But I didn't search for confirmation.

You may well be right. Though here, now, a lot of state-funded schools
_are_ nominally at least connected with some religion - usually branches
of the Christian faith, such as Anglican (C. of E.) or (Roman) Catholic,
thought some Muslim, and I presume some others. (I don't know of any
specifically atheist ones!) There's periodic friction about whether
association with the nominal religion has to be a qualification for
admission, and whether state funding should continue if it either is or
isn't. And you hear of families changing allegiance - or pretending to -
to get their kids into what is perceived to be a good school. (And
moving house, but you say that happens in the us too.)

Further: US usage, I understand, uses "school" to include both child
and adult education; in UK, with certain (mostly subject-specific)
exceptions, where you go to get your degree is "university", "school"
being for age 5 to about 16 or 18 only. (So "where did you go to
school" has a different meaning in the two countries: isn't often
asked in UK.)

"School" for post-secondary education is usually informal, but there
are exceptions: Eg, at Ryerson University in Toronto there is a "Rotman
School of Business". It's what is usually called a faculty over here.

However, with the exception of where they're talking about a _specific_
(i. e. named) one, I don't think I've often heard an American speak of
"going to university"; equally, I don't think I've ever heard a Brit
refer to "going to college", unless perhaps when conversing with
Americans. (FWIW, here colleges are _mostly_ subdivisions of
universities - usually cross-subject, though in a few cases
subject-specific.)

This use of "school" for "faculty" is spreading, probably because of
the increasing influence of donors, who like to see their names on
buildings and letterheads.

(-:
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

.... some language may be offensive to younger viewers. Like "please" and
"thank you". (Intro to /Off Their Rockers/, quoted in RT 25-31 May 2013 by
Sarah Millican.)