the current education system in the united states of america

7/27/2019 The Current Education System in the United States of America

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The Current Education System in the United States of America

It is a well known fact that each person possesses a powerful learning potential that provides him with

the opportunity to broaden his outlook, to enrich his experience and to see the surrounding world in all

its diversity and mystery. Learning is a complicated mechanism that is embedded in human

consciousness by nature in the course of evolutionary processes, and this mechanism is vital for

human survival and social adaptation. People are all learners, to a higher or a smaller degree; and the

process of learning itself is triggered by many factors, such as curiosity, perceived necessity or it

merely occurs subconsciously ruled by human cognitive instincts.

It is necessary to mention that learning is a multi-stage process comprising many components; it is not

limited by contemplation or memorizing only, instead, it presupposes the development of logical

abilities and of cause-and-effect relation. Education as a nation-wide system serves many purposes,

however the most general and the most obvious one is to help people learn more, to provide them with

a specific scope of knowledge that will help them in their lives. The system of education itself should

be viewed not only a scheme comprising of levels following each other, but also as a complex

phenomenon responding to various societal, economic and even political challenges and requirements.

The Education system in the United States of America is different to the one of many other developed

countries. However, such uniqueness is frequently criticized by educational researchers. The system of

education in the USA is disintegrated and is largely shaped by decision-making practices and tactics

on state and local level which results in enormous disparity in education accessibility and quality, in

school material (financial) provision and in students' results and involvement in the educational

process.

This research paper discusses current education system in the United States, its structure and

peculiarities. Moreover, the paper aims at the analysis of American educational system through the

prism of its management and conceptual controversies as well as from the point of view of economicand social difficulties that affect the effectiveness of the process of education in the country. The

major peculiarity of U.S. education system that distinguishes it from the one of many other countries

of the globe is that it is, in fact, out of direct control of the American government. Higher educational

system is comprised by two constituents: private schools that are governed by the trustees, and public

schools that are controlled by state and local governments. At the same time, education in the country

is largely provided by the government and essential funding is generated by federal, state and local

levels. A great number of education-related issues, such as teaching practices, curriculum, funding and

others are established via the school boards that are elected on the local level and govern particular

school districts.

School education and attendance is compulsory in the United States, however, the age of thecompulsory school attendance varies between the states according to state education laws. For

example, in Arkansas children start education at five ears old and graduate at the age of seventeen. In

contrast, in Ohio the chronological frames of compulsory school education embrace the period

between six and eighteen years of age (State Compulsory School Attendance Laws 2009). However,

many schools in different parts of the United States are now moving towards graduating students at the

age of eighteen and, correspondingly, accepting children at the age of six.

American school education is divided into several broad categories, such as elementary school, middle

school and high school. Preschool educational programs are also available in many states starting at

minimum age of three. Post-secondary education (college or university) is a special branch of the

education system and is governed differently to schools in America. "The structure of U.S. education
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includes 12 years of regular schooling, preceded by a year or two of pre-school education, and

followed by a four-stage higher education degree system (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorate)

plus various non-degree certificates and diplomas" (The U.S. Education System. Structure: General

Information 2009). It is important to mention that grading systems do not always coincide in various

American States, for example, some schools relate eighth and ninth grades to high school, while others

presume that high school starts in tenth grade and lasts until the twelfth grade, that is, until graduation.

Pre-school preparation is receiving more attention nowadays than several decades ago, and many

researchers believe this stage is essential for the child's subsequent successful adaptation to school

environment. Most often pre-school educational programs begin one or two years prior to the school

entry. The first year of pre-school education is also synonymously referred to as nursery school,

because children are often aged three and four; though the second year is defined as pre-school or

kindergarten (most often at the age of four or five).

There exist several types of pre-school educational institutions in the United States, such as the

following: non-profit co-operative schools (as a rule, they are the least expensive), church-affiliated

schools (that are often linked to religious centers and may include religious studies as well), local

community schools, private schools (they are the most expensive to attend) and a special type,Montessori schools (they are based on the unique method of teaching developed by Dr. Maria

Montessori in the beginning of the 20th century and focusing on behavioral and cognitive uniqueness

of each child). Approximately three million and a half children annually participate in pre-school

education programs in the United States, and this participation frequently contributes to higher grades

at school, because pre-school education "is designed to promote children's social-emotional, academic,

language, and literary skills, and health and well-being" (Justice, Vukelich & Teale 5).

Traditionally school education in the United States includes elementary education and secondary

education and, thus, divided into elementary school (including mostly children from six to eleven

years old), middle school (children from eleven to fourteen years old) and high school (students from

fourteen to eighteen ears old). The period of school education is typically divided into twelve grades,

or levels that symbolize students' progress and advancement from elementary school to high school.

During the period of elementary schooling (that most often includes grades from one to five) children

receive the elementary knowledge of some basic subjects (such as arithmetic, mathematics and

fundamentals of English language) and the majority of classes usually take place in a limited number

of classrooms (usually one or two), though certain subjects, such as music or physical education are

taught in special classrooms.

Many educational researchers believe that the teaching of sciences and of certain social sciences in

elementary school lack professional approach and depth, largely due to the fact elementary schoolteachers receive generalist preparation and training (Worzbyt, O'Rourke & Dandeneau 2003). The

overwhelming majority of schools in the United States are of public origin, and the specifications of

each subjects, the set of books to be used in the classroom, the requirements for the teachers'

qualifications and other related issues are outlined by the elected school boards in cooperation with

school administration.

The period of middle school is not always explicitly distinguishable and it is often substituted by the

notion of a junior high school that is comprised by seventh and eighth grades and serves as a link

between elementary school and senior high school. During this period more emphasis is put on

improving school grades and knowledge as the student gradually approaches his graduation and his

school records might be very important for post-secondary education or career. Unlike elementaryschool, junior high school students have more teachers, usually one teacher per subject. Traditional


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groups of subjects that are taught in high school include social sciences (such as economics or history,

English, science (such as chemistry or biology), mathematics and physical education.

Besides, students receive the opportunity to select preferred subjects from the list of so called electives

that may variably include computers, technology, foreign languages, athletics or other subjects. The

choice of the elective, or additional subject, is often predetermined by the student's own understanding

of what he might need for and after graduation. School psychologists stress that the choice of extrasubjects may play a very significant role in a student's future, so parents should not keep aside and

should have a talk with their child. Those high school students who intend to go to college after

graduation from school

Take special preparatory classes that intend to make them ready for entering a college (Barrett 2009).

Various colleges have different admission requirements, but they traditionally pay attention to students

school grades (marks), courses taken at school, school reputation (private schools are considered to be

more prestigious that public schools) and standardized test scores. During their high school period,

usually in the eleventh grade, students take one or several standardized tests, the most popular of

which are the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test and Scholastic Aptitude Test, which is now also

called SAT Reasoning Test) and the ACT.

Colleges or universities represent post-secondary education and it usually lasts for four years. Similar

two high school division college students are ranked freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. The

four years ofcollege education are also referred to as undergraduate studies and end with obtaining

bachelor's degree in a "major" field, such as Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Philosophy

(B.Phil.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and others. After obtaining bachelor's degree and often after some

years of professional activity students gain an advanced, master's degree, such as the well known

Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Arts (MA). Later on, doctor's degree may be

achieved.

The major problem with post-secondary education is its affordability for all people. Student tuition

and fees are increasing, thus generating larger volumes of student borrowing and making it harder for

middle-to-low income students to study further. "Over all, the report found, published college tuition

and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 while median family income rose 147 percent"

(Lewin 2009). At the same time many people find governmental support for low-income families to be

insufficient, as well as the involvement of charitable organizations. Other problems of American

system of education are discussed further in the paper.

Nowadays the system of standardized testing and the whole basics of American educational systems

are being criticized by a number of American and foreign scholars. They believe that American

secondary education is rather superficial especially concerning certain subjects, such as cultures ofother nations and world history. "High school textbooks in the United States of America teach a

slanted view of world history, where they are found at all. Continued reference is made throughout

more recent history, after the establishment of the thirteen colonies, to the area that became the U.S.,

as if it was the only significant detail in history. Any history before the founding of the U.S. is touched

very briefly, in one year of World History, which is not even considered a mandatory course in most

U.S. high schools" (The Education System in America 2009).

Besides, the famous No Child Left Behind Act signed by President Bush in 2001 seems to focus

educational efforts almost exclusively on improvement students' reading and mathematical skills,

while leaving the rest of the subjects behind. The most disturbing thing is that the reading skills of

students have hardly improved since 1994, while mathematical skills are prone to decline due toerroneous teaching model: "The existing teaching model for mathematics encourages students to

memorize problem solving techniques, but it doesn't teach the logical fundamentals of these
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techniques. Consequently, the system doesn't help students understand the logic of finding solutions"

(Belenky 2009).

Other problems of the education system in the United States (of both secondary and post-secondary

education) are insufficient control of students' cheating, controversies and inaccuracy of school

grading (marks) and also religious issues. Preoccupation of educators and book publishers with

cultural, ethnic and religious issues of multinational population seemed to be a democratic policy,aimed at respecting the views and lifestyles of different people. However, it has produced a negative

side effect: such policy "has pushed textbook publishers to excise religion altogether, even from

history class" (Goodman 317).

One more controversy and challenge of American secondary education lies in the typology and

affordability of schools. The point is that American students have several educational choices and to

summarize them briefly one may say that the following basic types of schools are available in the

USA: private schools and public schools. Besides, some parents prefer their children to receive

education at home. Major part of students in the USA studies in public school, mostly due to their

greater affordability. Private schools are not free and demand certain tuition from each student that

attends them. In 2000 only "5.2 million first-through-twelfth graders attended private schools, or 10.4percent of students in those grades" (U.S. Census Bureau. People: Education 2009).

Many students and parents consider private schools to be hardly affordable and too expensive, besides

these schools are not required by law to accept every applicant student and form its entrance

requirements on competition basis. Private schools introduce their own educational courses and

subjects they consider necessary for a student to graduate. Many of them teach religious subjects in

addition to standard set of subjects. Besides, the influence of state educational regulations and

prescriptions on public schools is minimal id compared with public schools.

Public schools, on their part, are predominantly funded by money received from state and local taxes.

Many of them face serious financial problems, especially in poor districts. Many representatives of

ethnic minorities live in poorer areas and, thus, have little access to good education. Nowadays public

schools are frequently criticized and blamed for such aspects as violence and low student achievement;

however the lack of funding remains the largest concern (Benveniste, Carnoy & Rothstein 2-6).

Obviously, educated person has more chances to succeed in the modern globalized world that is

characterized by tough competition between both individuals and companies. Education system as a

whole is not focused on the satisfaction of individual needs, though. Instead, it represents an important

governmental tool that aims at improving the overall education level of the country's population. Ratio

of educated people and those who are enrolled in multi-stage educational process reveal the

peculiarities of learning-related national tendencies, as well as governmental concernment andinvolvement in the promotion of education.

Naturally, there exist many factors that influence the functioning of the education system, such as

societal (sex, age, religion) and economic factors (income). Current educational system in the United

States of America has many peculiarities, and the largest one is that it is decentralized. The

government is partly responsible for funding education, however state and local authorities adopt

specific educational programs and the set of subjects. Education in the USA is divided into secondary

and post-secondary, and the first group, in its turn, is subdivided in elementary school (often preceded

by pre-school activities), middle school and high school.

Secondary school is compulsory nationwide, however grade division, entrance and graduation ratesare different in various states. Students may study in private school and public school; however the

latter are more popular and more affordable (comparatively free). In case the student decides to
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continue his education after graduation from school he can enter college or university (post-secondary

education) and obtain bachelor's degree and later - master's degree and doctor's degree. Educational

system of the USA comprises many problems and challenges, mostly of social and economical

character that need to be solved in order to increase the educational level of the nation and, in general,

to make education more high-quality and affordable for all people.

Works Cited

Barrett, M. "Secondary Education in the United States". Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://www.toeflaccess.com/articles/ETS/us/study/what_study/ed_sys/overview_higher_ed/secondary_

ed.html

Belenky, A. S. "U.S. Education System Gets Failing Math Grade". Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080608/FEATURES15/806080315/1030/FEATURES15

Benveniste, L., Carnoy, M. and Rothstein, R. "All Else Equal: are Public and Private Schools

Different?" New York: Routledge, 2003, pp 2-6.

Goodman, E. "Religion in the Textbooks" in Muller, G. H., Wiener, H. S. "To the Point: Reading and

Writing Short Arguments". London: Longman, 2004, p. 317.

Justice, L. M., Vukelich, C. and Teale, W. H. "Achieving Excellence in Preschool Literacy

Instruction". New York: Guilford Press, 2007, p. 5.

Lewin, T. "College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S". Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/106254/College-May-Become-Unaffordable-for-

Most-in-US

State Compulsory School Attendance Laws. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0112617.html

The Education System in America. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://www.essortment.com/all/historyamerica_rdtf.htm

The U.S. Education System. Structure: General Information. Retrieved May 11, 2009, from

http://usinfo.org/enus/education/overview/edlite-structure-us1.html

U.S. Census Bureau. People: Education. Retrieved May 11, 2009, fromhttp://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=tp5_education

Worzbyt, J. C., O'Rourke, K. and Dandeneau, C. J. "Elementary School Counseling: A Commitment

to Caring and Community Building". New York: Routledge Mental Health, 2003, 490 pp.

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