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So a while back, I read that the US is now bottom - rock bottom - among industrialized countries for education. Shocking, and disgusting, considering that our university system is one of the finest in the world. However, only a fraction of the populace gets to experience said system.
Now, I read another shocker, "one in seven American adults can't find the United States on an unmarked world map". Wow. Why is this not a higher priority? Why do I read a guy on FunAdvice like piker saying Imperialism is good, and screw the other guy, when really, what we need is more education (k-12)? Any ideas?
I was reading that the United States spends more per student than every industrialized nation except Japan. So obviously, more money is not the problem.
I also watched a program a few years ago that compared the education systems of Germany, Japan, and the US. The one major difference between our system and the other two was that after the school day ended, the parents picked up the slack and insisted their children not only study, but get involved in all kinds of enriching activities. Also, parent teacher conferences weren't just a formality; parents and teachers discuss every aspect of a child's education, strengths, areas needing improvement, and so on.
German and Japanese companies and business owners also take a vested interest in the education system, setting up workshops and actively trying to get students into their field. I know this is done in some parts of the US, but it is done on a massive scale in the other two nations.
Basically, we need for the other institutions of society (family, church, community, business, etc.) to be a part of the education system. When it's a priority for all of society, then maybe it will be a priority for the students who we're supposed to be guiding into adult life.
I think that one of the reasons we have so many problems is that school admin, like principals and vice principals get paid waaayyy more than they should, when that money should really be going towards things that students need, like books and more well quailfied teachers to reduce classroom size. Plus, many teachers that I have seen are not current in the subjects that they teach; for example, my younger brothers French teacher does not even SPEAK French, but the school does nothing to fix the problem. I actually had good teachers (for the most part) until my dad refused to allow me to go back to school in the 10th grade. They gave me something better than just making me memorize facts and spit them back. I was actually interested in what they were teaching me. What should happen is that we should try to interest our childern from a small age in everything possible, from watching some news or something on the history or discovery channel once in a while. I mean, if we just sit back a don't do anything about getting our kids interested in the world at large, aren't we just as bad, or worse than a bad teacher?
There are many problems with American public schools. Currently teachers are far too micromanaged. When I was a lad teachers had a lot more autonomy. This is a bad thing with poor teachers but a very good thing for inspiring teachers but usually the good outweighs the bad over the years. The current educational reforms were not devised by educators but businessmen who feel like they know better than educators how to educate our children. If you think about it the corolary to "no child left behind" is "no child gets ahead."
Most educators look at students as minds to be filled with information to be later regurgitated on standardized tests rather than a lamp to be lit. Real education isn't the process of spoon feeding a list of facts but rather to instill a love of learning and knowledge in student's minds.
I have noticed that public schools give a lot more homework than when I was a student. When I look it over most of it is busywork that serves no purpose other than using up time kids could be doing more stimulating activities.
The main purpose of public schools is not education but socialization; making each individual more like the whole. Our schools are designed to dull the spark of creativity and curiosity by the time kids graduate so they will be more useful as cogs for industry. The people who determine what kind of education your kids receive send their kids to highfalutin private schools where they will learn to be the leaders of tomorrow. Their plans for everyone else is to be obedient minions.
imperialism is good, "we make war so that we may live in peace", And more education will not do the trick. many of the american people have given up on education, I forget the statistics but the number of high school drop outs is pretty crazy now. you cannot teach people who do not want to be taught.
I dont know if the need is for more education, but maybe better education in certain places that just arent getting it? The whole system of funding education through property taxes keeps the cycle of poverty going... the poorer kids get a poorer education... and so they remain poor...
First of all let me just say as a Canadian...Obama 2008!!!
But really, if education isn't getting enough funding, however it is raised, it just needs to be increased. Priorities my fellow American cousins, need to be reassessed because it's not as if the funding couldn't be raised.
I agree with you, education is more important especially these days.
