Blog•Mar 2, 2026
The Tyranny of Low Expectations, and the Dutch Offering an Alternative
A Dutch HAVO student in her third year of secondary school is required to attend 15 core classes plus two electives, totaling 17 subjects, each with regular testing and homework. The Dutch system pairs this academic breadth with strict behavioral rules—no phones, dress codes, and mandatory attentive posture. The author contrasts this demanding schedule and discipline with the comparatively lighter, less structured U.S. high‑school experience. The piece argues that high expectations and rigorous routines teach students time‑management, responsibility, and confidence in tackling complex challenges.
