well. You read Val's link, yes?
Which one?
I was familiar with the US testing references, and the Irish stuff is very similar to questions for the French baccalaureat.
I have found Jed Applerouth's experience hilarious, definitely not one of the pitfalls of the French system. Where the issue might be more that you think Rousseau was a pompous, hypocritical windbag, and you get your French/philosophy baccalaureat essay excoriating his morals, intelligence, and writing abilities corrected by a teacher who believes him to be the greatest thinker in the history of humanity. That's when lack of concern for actual content is something to yearn for
Ahem... not that I would know from personal experience, or anything...
I find both systems frustrating, for different reasons. I do have a list of things I need to make sure my kids learn where I find the US system sorely lacking.
