School
A school is an educational institution. Schools can be either publicly- or privately-funded, and may have a secular or a religious mandate.
In America, the curriculum in public schools is dictated by state governments. Public schools do not provide religious instruction to schoolchildren, nor do they allow teacher-led prayer. Government-controlled schools are supported by taxpayers, often in the form of a school tax on propert. Prior to the 20th century, public school attendance was only part-time, consuming only about half or less of the year.
Private schools, also known as public schools in some Commonwealth countries as they are open to the public, are organized similarly, though they are not paid for by taxpayers but by the children's parents, thereby constituting a double expense for parents. Some private schools aspire to very high standards, some specialize in certain modes and topics of instruction (such as a military school), and yet others provide a place for children who need curricula not available in the public systems.
Faith schools is the term in the United Kingdom for schools which are partially controlled by religious denominations and have a predominance of pupils from that denomination.
Schooling also occurs (in smaller numbers) in various non-traditional and non-institutional environments. This is often due to concerns of parents about institutional schooling, such as a lack of quality in traditional schools and their hostility to religion and morality.
In Nordic Countries there are virtually no schools other than government schools.[Citation Needed]