What is the difference between the schools in The Giver and American schools today?

It can be argued that American schools today are similar in some ways to the schools in The Giver.  For example, in American schools children are grouped by grade.  In The Giver, they are grouped by age.  However, there are many differences between the two.

In The Giver, education is focused on teaching societal norms, learning about various careers within the Community, and using language correctly.  There are also lessons on technology....

It can be argued that American schools today are similar in some ways to the schools in The Giver.  For example, in American schools children are grouped by grade.  In The Giver, they are grouped by age.  However, there are many differences between the two.

In The Giver, education is focused on teaching societal norms, learning about various careers within the Community, and using language correctly.  There are also lessons on technology.  However, there seems to be less of an academic focus compared to American schools.  In the book, the main purpose of school is to train students to be citizens who conform to the expectations of the Community and to prepare for a specific career.  In American schools, students learn about literature, music, and art in additional to reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.  There is no art, music, or literature in the schools in The Giver because all of those things have been forgotten by everyone except for the Giver himself.  Also, most American schools are not focused on career preparation until high school.  

It is clear that Lois Lowry used traditional schooling as a basis for education in her novel.  From there, she created a very different system.