Paper on Navigating the Waves: A Historical Journey and Contemporary Analysis of the U.S. Education System

Currently, education in the United States is more important and accessible to all regardless of status. The existing education program promotes a positive school culture promoting soft, social, emotional, and academic skills. In America, the age of compulsory education is 5 to 7 years and ends between 16 and 18 years (Bok, 2015). The duration of primary education varies from 4 to 7 years. Each state governs what grade range institutes elementary education. Secondary schooling takes place in grades from 7 to 12. In high school, there are different awards for both curricula and standards (Bok, 2015). With the help of the Advanced Placement program, students are placed in college. Later one proceeds to higher education.

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Education has constantly been adjusted to prepare students to go out there and take on the world with quality skills and knowledge. The United States has had a long history in education from the 16th century till the 21st century. The curriculum has fluctuated from family and religion to literacy, depending on societal customs. In the 17th century, the society advocated for people to stay at home and help with various duties. Education was not a requirement for many. Whenever people got an opportunity to be educated, they were taught by older family members at home (McCarthy, 2011). Children were mainly to be taught in what manner to read the bible and conduct themselves with good moralities. With time the population began to rise, and each group was required to have at least one school than academics. However, only the wealthy were able to attend the schools. In 1636 Harvard School was established, and later in 1787, the first girls’ academy was formed.

In the 19th century, the education system changed from religious, privilege-based education to common state-sponsored education. The first communal school in the US was set up in 1821. In 1867, the Department of Education was started to donate 2 million dollars to help public education (Bok, 2015). Later, Howard University for African American students was set up. By 1870 communal schools were now present in every state, with secondary public schools surpassing private schools. However, in 1873, formal education went down due to a lack of funds, and the schools closed (Bok, 2015).

In the 20th century, the US education system bounced back. The Association of American Universities was formed. The developing Education System was started, and all 50 states agreed to fund transport for children. In 1954, following the Supreme Court decision, schools in the South began desegregating schools. In the 1970s, segregation came to an end. Technology began to make its way into the education system by introducing computers and calculators in schools (Goldring et al., 2013). This transition marked the beginning of a new era, modern education. The collaborative academic, social, and emotional learning supported schools in both academics and social skills. The education system has currently increased from 59% to 94% attendance rate and improvement in the system with high technology.

The education system in the United States has a diverse student community. The schools offer a range of studies and courses which help students to gain an all-round perspective (Bok,2015). The tuition system has qualified teachers with at least a degree level background generally in their core subjects. It means that the students are provided with quality education. The school buildings are of good quality with the latest technology available. The resources help the students in researching and getting more knowledge. Besides that, the schools have reasonable class sizes, allowing the teacher to pay attention to every student’s needs. Lastly, the education system enriches a student’s experience since learning is highly interactive and practical.

Nonetheless, the system also has its weaknesses. First, the tuition fees offered by the majority of schools are costly. Despite the loans granted, it is not guaranteed for all. Second, schools are judged by exam results, which skews what is taught, and also, since funding is tied to good results, some schools remain non-funded by the government (Warren, 2018). Besides that, the curriculum constantly changes, and teaching diversity can lead to confusion among students. Employment and work opportunities are complex, especially for international students. Lastly, social benefits during the time of study are difficult to acquire for international students.

To improve the education system in the U.S., the government should lower the age of enrollment in early education schools. Children should join kindergarten at the age of 3 to 4 years to make them aware of the basics before enrolling in elementary school. It will be of great assistance, especially to students born into lower social, and economic conditions. The manner of recruiting and training teachers should be changed and not only focus on the papers but also on the skills. The government should also encourage college savings plans to help low-income families. The funding streams should be advanced to address the needs of college students. The education system should be improved to uplift our youth and communities as well.

References

Bok, D. (2015). Higher education in America: Revised edition (Vol. 87). Princeton University Press.

Goldring, R., Gray, L., & Bitterman, A. (2013). Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in the United States: Results from the 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey. First Look. NCES 2013-314. National Center for Education Statistics.

McCarthy, M. C. (2011). History of American Higher Education. Peter Lang New York. 29 Broadway 18th Floor, New York, NY 10006.

Warren, L. L. (2018). The Governance of Public Education in the United States of America. Journal of Power, Politics & Governance, 6(1), 1-6.