PEOPLE HAVE different aptitudes and interests, and some lucky students discover these at a young age, concentrating on their field of interest. To help those students, there exist specialized high schools all over the world to nurture and develop their interests and special abilities. The Yonsei Annals asked students from Japan, Germany, the United States, and Vietnam about the specialized high schools of their countries.

The Role of specialized high schools
   Throughout the world there are many specialized high schools to nurture students with special talents. In Korea, those who want to become chefs can attend the Korea Culinary Arts Science High School, and for those who are talented in gukak (Korean classical music), there is the Gukak National High School. Recently, Korea's government announced that it will establish Meister High School in 2010, a new specialized high school based on Germany's Meisterschule. "Meister High School in Korea will cultivate experts who can enter their field of study after graduating from high school. It will nurture experts who are highly respected by the society even without college degrees," says Kim Young-uk (School Inspector, Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education). Specialized high schools can scout talented students in the field they are interested in and guide them in the right direction from a young age. "Without specialized high schools, it will be difficult for students who have discovered their aptitude at an early age to receive the help they need to pursue their field of interest." says Kim. Specialized high schools present them with the chance to succeed, and they also benefit society by cultivating experts who will help develop the nation.

A Korean specialized high school
   Among Korea's specialized high schools is the Korea Animation High School. The Korea Animation High School was founded in March 2000 with the purpose of providing education focused on students' artistic aptitude and talents. It aims to nurture internationally competitive students with talents in 4 areas: creating cartoons; animation; visual arts; and computer game production. It selects one hundred students each year. "The Korea Animation High School's curriculum differs much from that of ordinary high schools. In the first year, the students focus on the ordinary curriculum, but when they go on to the second year, they start developing their major, and in the third year, they become even more deeply involved with their major studies," says Youn Byoung-kwon (Vice Director, Educational Affairs Department, Korea Animation High School). After graduation, about 30% of its students go abroad to Japanese universities to study, and the majority of students enter universities to major in fields related to their talents. Outside of Korea, there are also many specialized high schools which help realize student's dreams.

Q: Are there any specialized high schools in your country?

In Japan, instead of specialized high schools, there is a facility that students can attend which is called Senmon Gakkou. These institutes offer students the chance to combine senior high school studies with a vocational subject. Common ones include motor mechanics, hairdressing, and fashion design. Usually, students in Senmon Gakkous receive licenses in their field of study. Those licenses are highly valued in Japan, and therefore, after graduation, students immediately find employment instead of going to university. People have a positive perception of students from Senmon Gakkou. Unlike in the past, people now think it is better to follow your interest rather than studying something that you are not interested in and going to a less prestigious university.

There is a dual high school system in Germany. Regular high schools are for students who want to study theoretically and go on to universities, and special high schools, called Meisterschule, are for students who want to have apprenticeships. I have graduated from one of the Meisterschule, called Brilliat Savarin Oberstufenzentrum. I decided to attend this school because I wanted to pursue a career in the hotel business. The school provides an education that is much more practical than theoretical. This practical education includes going to actual hotels and working at every department for 3 months. In this way, students can learn everything from front office management to kitchen operation.

In the United States there are magnet schools, and each school emphasizes a particular area of study. Therefore it gives students new insights and more opportunities to explore what interests them most. For example, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts is a high school for students with a desire for intensive study in the arts, and includes programs for students with talent in dance, instrumental or vocal music, performance or technical theatre, film and video production. Students must pass extensive audition tests to be accepted. The United States society respects students who have strong faith in their field of interest and parents are willing to support their children if they have capabilities in certain areas. I think it is positive that there are facilities to support students with such talents.

Specialized high schools in Vietnam teach an ordinary curriculum along with a specialized curriculum related to vocational subject. The schools provide licenses to students so that they can start working straight after graduating from high school. For example, one of my friends majored in forestry, and, instead of enrolling in a university, he got a job related to this field right after graduating.  The society's perception of the students of specialized high schools is sometimes negative, because, like Korea, Vietnam puts a great deal of emphasis on academics. However, I think that without specialized high schools, the educational system cannot be innovated, and students will have no opportunity to study what they want.

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   Studying is not the only way to guarantee success. People have different interests and talents, and these must be respected and developed by society. Specialized high schools not only help individual students achieve success in their fields of interest and help them have a better life, but they also benefit society by nurturing experts who will increase our standard of living. Specialized high schools are one of the greatest assets for the future of the nation. Therefore, providing practical education and breaking away from the uniform education of the past is necessary.