The United States' Deteriorating Education System Essay

While the U.S. has shown minor improvement in the PISA science test scores from 2006 to 2009 there is still a large margin for improvement needed in all areas. But questions still remain to be answered as to why there is such a large gap in comparison between the U.S. education and other countries. In his remarks regarding the release of the PISA results, Secretary Arne Duncan quotes the fact that the OECD has concluded in their study that the primary issue is not directly related to diversity or disadvantaged backgrounds of public school students but that "Socio-economic disadvantage leads more directly to poor educational performance in the United States than is the case in many other countries." (Secretary Arne Duncan’s Remarks at OECD’s Release of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009 Results, December 7, 2010)

The United States of America has placed low on the educational ladder throughout the years. The cause of such a low ranking is due to such heavy emphasis on standardized testing and not individual student achievement. Although the United States uses standardized testing as a crutch, it is not an effective measure of a student’s ability, a teacher’s competency, or a school’s proficiency.

One in seven adults in America will not be able to read this paper (Toppo). This is an alarming fact to me, because if they can’t read this then what can they read? There are many factors which have led to the failed education system of the United States. Some of the main factors that have led to this ongoing problem have connections with this economic hardship we are facing. Teachers and schools budgets are being cut which is harshly affecting education. Schools are leaning towards standardized tests to determine if a student has learned what they should through the curriculum. By these testing methods being forced on students and teachers, this affects what is taught in a class room by forcing teachers to lean more towards teaching

The American education system needs to change techniques in order to successfully prepare students for success in today’s world. American students are reportedly averaging some of the lowest test scores on the PISA test. This is mentioned in Amanda Ripley’s book the Smartest Kids in the World when it’s stated “Failure in American schools was demoralizing…American kids could not handle routine failure” (pg.72 par.4). This statement is a clear sign that the techniques used in the American education system to promote academic success in students need amending. There is definitely a change that needs to happen within the American educational system this is the only way to ensure that American students will be equipped with the tools they require

While reading the piece, “Straight from the source: What works for fist-generation college students” I was somewhat conflicted. I applaud the state of Texas for taking steps in order to increase enrollment of first-generation students in higher education institutions, However, I feel like these steps aren’t addressing the bigger issue; that being the broken education system in America. Until this bigger issue is addressed and the problem is dealt with from the root, anything that is done will only be addressing the symptoms caused by the real problem which is America’s broken education system.

Education is an integral part of society, School helps children learn social norms as well as teach them to be successful adults. The school systems in United States, however are failing their students. In the world as a whole, the United States is quickly falling behind other countries in important math and reading scores. The United States ranked thirtieth in math on a global scale and twentieth in literacy. This is even more true in more urban, lower socio-economic areas in the United States. In West Trenton Central High School was only 83% proficiency in literacy and only 49% of the students were proficient in math. These school have lower test scores and high dropout rates. Many of these students come from minority backgrounds and are often form low income families. There are many issues surrounding these urban schools. There is a severe lack of proper funding in these districts, and much of the money they do receive is sanctioned for non-crucial things. Schools also need a certain level of individualization with their students, and in many urban classes, this simply does not happen. While there are many factors affecting the low performance of urban schools, the lack of proper funding and distribution of funds, the cultural divide between teachers and students in urban districts, along with the lack of individualization in urban classrooms are crucial factors to explain the poor performance in these districts. Through a process of teacher lead budget committees and

I can really look back at high school and say, “what did I learn?” and “how is it helping me today in life?” Because it really hasn’t helped at all. Being in my second year out of high school I can honestly say I’ve learned more on my own and on the fly then what I learned in school. Everything I learned was just to turn in assignments and pass tests to pass school but really have me learn the curriculum. A student who has a straight F can have an exemplary IQ and a student who just turns everything in can be a lot lower. Jack Schneider said, “Everything in American education is broken”, he further explains that, the educational system simply stopped working, its aged, declined, and broke but also felt like the system certainly didn’t need to changed. In the Article the Schneider is very skeptical about supporting the topic. The Author does not completely support the topic because of his skeptics.

The second difference between the organization of the education systems is the conclusion of the compulsory education. After completing their basic education of nine years in Finland, pupils go on to the second level of schooling, known as general secondary education, for three years. After completing the secondary education level, students must partake in a “matriculation examination” in order to pass general secondary education. The matriculation examination is the only standardized test in the nation that students are required to take. Passing the exam permits

Since the release of the annual report by Program for International Student Assessment in December of 2010, many in the government and community are searching for ways to reform the American education system to give American students a greater opportunity to succeed. According to the report, one cannot ignore the fact that American students are not testing as high academically as other nations in the world. There are many contributing elements that have brought America to her knees in the education system, however, the obsession with standardized testing is found to be more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone in the education system. To understand how to rectify the problem, we must look at all the facts presented to us, compare

In 1635, the first American public school was founded (historyeducationinfo.com). Located in Boston Massachusetts, and soon to spread all over, our American Right, to a free and public education still exist today. Unfortunately recent studies suggest that the American Education system might be broken. In the 2013 PISA Education Ratings of international developed countries, America ranked 28th out of 34. These results were mind blowing as America at the same time, also ranked fifth, in most amount of money spent on education. These uneasy numbers led to change in congress and in 2001, under President Bush, the “No Child Left Behind” bill was passed.

In my lifetime, I intend on changing America by reforming our educational institutions to teach the ability to learn, rather than the ability to test. In order for America to more comfortably adjust to globalization, I believe our education system should focus on teaching students how to adapt and learn rather than how to take a standardized test.

An exit examination is a test that students must pass to receive a diploma and graduate from high school in the United States. These are usually criterion­ referenced tests which were implemented as part of a comprehensive standards­ based education reform program which sets into place new standards intended to increase the learning of all students. When any test is directly tied to significant consequences, such as determining whether the student may receive a high school diploma, it is called a high­ stakes test. Many organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics oppose high­ stakes tests in general, with the NCTM saying that "placing too much emphasis on a single test or on testing can undermine the quality of education and jeopardize equality of

It is a tough thought for some teenagers, to imagine the idea of more tests on top of the already rigorous schoolwork. Early on Saturday mornings, one can see the procession of kids entering high schools across the country to put themselves through five hours of gruelling testing. All of this nightmarish workload is completed just for the opportunity to attend a college of some recognition and ultimately gain a job in the workforce.

Public education in the United States is perhaps one of the most critical issues we face as a nation. Once pronouncing the United States as a “nation at risk”, the educational institution began to implement one reform strategy after another. In efforts to improve schooling for K-12 students, education reform has fiddled with class size, revised graduation requirements, and created standardized testing just to name a few. Unfortunately, traditional public schools are still failing to provide students with a quality education. This is disheartening as we learn that the United States lags behind in math and science compared to our international counterparts. It is safe to say that educational reform has spent billions of dollars over the

According to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) rated the United States 24th out of 34 OECD countries (Programme for International Student Assessment Results from PISA, 2012). The PISA is designed to test 15-year-old students to determine if they can apply the skills and knowledge obtained in preceding educational years to real world situations; PISA scores demonstrate the student’s capability of participating in modern societies (Programme for