Michael Dennis
Soc 210 Introduction to Sociology
5H02FA
Cross Cultural Differences in Education
Education plays an important role in our everyday lives. It allows us to have the knowledge and capabilities to perform tasks and overcome challenges in a variety of situations. Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, beliefs, or values. These attributes that are acquired in education helps to get into college, start a career, or can even understand people. Within this research paper I will be examining the cross-cultural differences in education between the United States, Finland, and South Korea.
Education within the United States The United States education system operates by the state. Each state contains school districts which jobs are to “coordinate education policies, planning for changing educational needs within the community, and often even establishing programs curricula” (Corsi-Bunker 2). Public schools also rely heavily on local taxes to fund their educational needs, thus creating the community and financial status to reflect how the school performs and what they teach. Therefore, with individual districts within the state that regulate their own education within their schools, there is a variation among courses, subjects, and other activities. The education levels in the United States vary but all follow about the same path. Usually, the education system goes from elementary school (grades k-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades
One of the biggest problems in the American public education system is the lack of a common standard for what students should be learning, and when they should learn it. In other words, the inequality of curriculums across the nation is affecting the preparedness of students when they venture out beyond the public school system, for the worst. The way to fix this problem, according to many teachers, administrators, and politicians, is by implementing a common curriculum across the nation that will ensure that the quality of a student’s education is not determined by where they happen to live.
I found the Differences and similarities of both educational systems very interesting. The United States educational system is has three levels however; some school districts may subdivide elementary and secondary students to create separate schools at the middle and junior high level. Once a child turns five they begin kindergarten and stay in elementary until they graduate. From there they attend junior high, grades 5 through 8. All students enter into High School for grades 9-12 and if they are successful, they graduate with a high school diploma and enter the workforce or pursue higher education.
Education is the foundation to secure an individual in having a better future and a successful career in life. Public education primarily falls upon the state and local government to take charge of, which get divided up into local school districts that are managed by school boards. School boards are “ an elected body corporate which manages delegated powers in regards to the deliver of education service within a defined territory (Duhaime’s Law Dictionary)”. Each state “has its own department of education and laws regulating finance, the hiring of school personnel, student attendance, and curriculum (Corsi-Bunker, Antonella).
There are many approaches that can be taken in order to develop a school’s curriculum, or the material that the students will learn. If there were no federal regulation of curriculum, then it would not be possible to compare student achievement across districts or even states. The federal program, Common Core State Standards, assists in equaling education across the nation. The Common Core has reinvented the perception of student learning which, in turn, has caused American education to become a corporate institution. As a result, there has been a threat to states’ rights for education as more rigorous content has been implemented into classrooms by the government, which ultimately changes the role of the teacher.
Education plays a major role in the modern life to all individuals in society. It has allowed societies to prosper both socially and economically by enabling them to develop common values and culture. Our world is constantly changing and it requires a prepared society that is well prepared in understanding the problems deriving from culture differences and tolerance of one another’s beliefs and perceptions. We are dealing with systemic problems in education, economic, government, religion and culture differences.
In the American schooling system, children begin primary school around the age of six, this is called elementary school and most students stay there for five to six years before they go on to secondary school which involves middle school and high school. After graduating high school some students may go on to “higher education” known as college, but any schooling done after high school is no longer mandatory.
The common public school has progressed greatly in the last hundred years. It has gone from single room school houses to massive buildings housing more than 2,000 students. Most people get an education past the eighth grade compared to the five percent in 1890 (Joy 2017) and a little over thirty-three percent of people over 25 have graduated college (The Hill). But despite these major changes in the public school system, the major goals and purposes remain relatively the same. The curriculum has changed as more knowledge has been gained but not much else has really changed in the grand scheme of things.
Correspondingly, the Government must witness the merits of borrowing the ideals of other educational systems, not to mention, it is imperative to grant schooling officials and students alike to voice their opinions. In addition, as a societal entity, the populace must be open to separate methods of teaching alongside the resources to provide for students. Furthermore, at a provincial level schools coherently must reason with the systematic approach taken in the vast majority of schools, as can be seen by mainstream public schools, by introducing a recreation of a plan that fits each and every student. Lastly, it is indisputable that North American education far exceeds an abundant amount of systems, but the government should be wary and tread cautiously in the event of recreating the mistakes of other counterparts. Overall, dawning the age of technology, North American education has flourished and has reinforced schooling systems worldwide, together with the might of the populace, schools will dance the field of perfection in
Education varies across the world. Each country has their unique perspective on what they feel is necessary to teach their students to prepare them for their future. Many factors come into play when it comes to setting up a curriculum, such as culture and economics. Ireland is currently ranked as the ninth best education system in the world. Currently, Education in this country is free for everyone through the university level and their literacy rate is 99% (20 Best Education Systems In The World). The United States is surprisingly ranked as the fourteenth best education system in the world. All citizens have the
With regards to approach, a large portion of the general population tends to look to the national government to lead the way, yet the neighborhood governments decide instructive arrangements. Right off the bat in America's history, officials passed the tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which is the reason for making instruction a component of the states. In the states, each school region is directed and financed by the group alongside that area's state government. School areas with higher financial levels tend to give more assets to their schools. Principles and nature of instruction thus change generally from state to state, town to town, and even area to locale.
The educational system differs throughout the world; its viewed and taught differently because of cultural differences. Many cultures view education as a necessity of life therefore family are strict and get more involved in there child’s education. Around the world, education is given to students to prepare them for their future. The American education is considered one of the strongest systems of education therefore many countries the American system. The American education system contains many differences and similarities to the foreign system of education; however, students in the American system are not as successful as those in foreign countries like Japan.
South Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world, in which it has its own culture, language, and customs that are different from other Asian countries. In South Korea, the citizens greatly value hard work, filial piety, and humility in their daily lives. South Koreans are very proud people in which they pride themselves in their traditional culture and their financial success.
Many countries in the world view education as the key to success in life, but each country’s educational system is different in many regards. In the American educational system, students attend school to learn the skills necessary to function in society. In the Japanese educational system, students learn and memorize various subjects to take school examinations in the hopes of winning the education race. The American and Japanese educational systems may seem similar but are different in the areas of relationships and interests, educational values, and the view of importance of education.
In this interview Ben Bagley asks Theresa Han about the difference between Korean and American culture. Theresa is a teenager who recently moved to the United States so she has an excellent perspective for understanding the differences and similarities between these countries.