North Carolina sent a group of educators to Denmark to look at the educational system. Their trip report "Rethinking High School Education in North Carolina: Seeing How the Danes Do It" states:
Delegates also found there are different philosophies underlying the U.S. and Danish school systems. The Danish system does not rely on standardized test scores; rather it focuses on life skills that are marketable. As one delegate noted, “ they are preparing young people for life, not for tests.” In addition, Denmark prepares its students to live in the international community: there is a strong focus on foreign languages and culture and many apprenticeship programs include placement in other countries.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, the Americans found that the Danes invest far more of their dollars in education. Education at all levels is free, and high school and college students receive government financial support while enrolled, the theory being that they can then focus on their educations without having to take part time jobs to earn spending money. The financial support also is an incentive for them to stay in school.
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