Education in America
April 13, 2011 by matthewbodh
In the world that we live in today we all recognize the importance of education. It can open the door to new opportunities that would not be possible without the knowledge that we learn in school. Today government programs and new laws try to implement change in the school system, but often times these changes do not make it to the classroom. They are often held up in court systems that are waiting for different budgets to pass. These budget cuts and freezes cause class sizes to rise and cut key school programs. Children are not receiving the necessary individual attention they need, and this is shown on a greater scale globally. Children in America are falling behind compared to children in foreign countries, which are considered third-world.
Children should have a solid foundation, this should start with a structured elementary school education. As we learned in class, learning occurs at the earliest age and we should provide the child with the necessary tools. The elementary school education is not structured enough and too much time is left for social interactions. Children usually start school around the ages of 4 or 5, but their curriculum continues to remain the same for two or three years in order to allow other children to catchup. These children are either immigrants who do not speak English or children that were enrolled at a later age. The elementary school curriculum should move at a standard pace in order to keep up with the rest of the world. Across the globe children are learning to read and write much faster than American children. This is due to a more intense curriculum and a focus on advancing quickly. The new laws that are put in place to push children to higher grades regardless if they are competent or not is hurting the American system. Not only is it slowing down the growth of the more intelligent students, but it is hurting the children who work at a slower pace. These children should be held back and only moved along to a higher grade once they have the needed skill set. Only then we will see children in America competing with foreign students.
As for high schools, I believe that a similar college admission system should be applied. Some high schools have already adapted admissions tests which make them the most coveted schools. This puts students in a school with comparable peers that improves the learning atmosphere. High school is where another level of core attributes are formed, attendance in high school is mandatory but it is rarely enforced effectively. Student attendance needs to be enforced by both the teacher and parent. I believe that there is a lack of communication between the teacher and parent, which is due to the enormous class sizes. Every year it seems like class sizes are getting larger which makes it harder for students to learn.
The politics and corruption are the main factors holding back education. Whether it is superintendents embezzling school funds or budget cuts, the children of America are suffering. Less focus is put on them and more is put on the money. When the education system can fully focus on the children and make then system more efficient, then and only then will American children compete with foreign students.
