Most people worldwide consider the American education system the best in the world. However, many American citizens would disagree with this claim. The outdated grading system, inequality in school provision, unfair treatment of students, and their systematization. This is how most ordinary Americans and a plethora of studies describe their education system, which they consider a failure. What is wrong with the American education system, and is it really failing to provide students with quality knowledge? Let’s delve deeper into the topic and find out why the US school system is bad.
The most pressing issues with the United States education system
Socioeconomic Disparities. People usually think America is the land of dreams, where everyone has equal access to all societal benefits. But in reality, almost all fundamental systems are full of inequality. Such problems with the United States education system are not an exception. According to CITE, one’s societal background is decisive for their future success. For instance, kids from a lower socioeconomic status (SES) will finish school behind others if they start this way. Research shows a tremendous performance gap between students from high and low SES. Moreover, it is not due to someone being smarter. The system simply pays more attention to children from wealthier families.
Uneven Funding. The American structure promotes decentralized approaches to government systems. So, United States education system funding mainly depends on local efforts and investors. Schools from big cities and wealthy neighborhoods can provide state-of-the-art facilities. While local schools from small towns are seriously underfunded. Schools that receive insufficient finances cannot give students the necessary academic support. They have to struggle with learning and do not have enough time to cover all the required material. Fortunately, essay writing services like EssayHave can write papers for you. It offers top-notch assistance with writing essays to make everyone’s essay perfect.
Racism. Who would have thought that racism remains a serious problem in America even in the 21st century? Schools with the largest numbers of black, Latino, or Native American students receive less funding than white-dominant facilities. It may seem like a coincidence to some, but racial disparities in education do exist. People of color and non-American cultural backgrounds are treated differently, while schools hinder their academic development. Despite all the loud statements, racial discrimination is still one of the most pressing American education system problems. Moreover, it is actively cultivated, although not explicitly.
Absence of Individualized Approach. The ranking system in America is also remarkable. It is the only place where universality is detrimental, yet here it is! Instead of an individual or at least flexible approach to evaluation, a single number or letter on a score sheet can change a person’s fate. Tests obviously cannot capture all student performance and capabilities. However, they are used as the only correct means of assessment. The system makes students afraid of tests and exams. They learn not for the sake of knowledge but for the sake of grades.
Are there any obvious reasons why the American education system is so bad?
Basically, all the above problems with America’s education system are both causes and effects of themselves. In brief, the prerequisites for such a situation are as follows:
- The highly decentralized education system
- Deeply rooted social and racial discrimination
- Inadequate teacher training
- Enormous disparities in funding
- Outdated and standardized assessment system
- Privatization in the educational sphere
As you can see, America’s school system is a mess that is a catalyst for itself. Many, if not all, problems are interrelated and contribute to each other. Only a comprehensive solution will rebuild an outdated system and address all major problems.
How can we improve the situation?
Though the current situation may seem like a stalemate, there is a solution. Comprehensive and decisive measures are required to prevent the final collapse of the education system. Let’s look at practical suggestions for addressing the problem:
Public Awareness. Despite the great popularity of this issue and a lot of research, the situation is not getting any better. Therefore, public awareness is fundamentally important to bring the issue to the highest levels. People should write about, discuss, and spread information on this topic to pay attention to the problem and its importance. Moreover, it is important not only to complain about the system but also to suggest solutions. Society should be genuinely interested in improving the education system and work together to bring change.
Comprehensive Teacher Training. Teachers are the second most important improvement step in the education system. As the link between students, parents, and the institution, they have tremendous power to change the system from within. Training and professional education will give educators a modern view of teaching and encourage change. For example, such initiatives can help to reveal the importance of individualized attention and maybe even address the fundamental problem of discrimination. As direct participants in the process, teachers can unite to promote crucial local and national changes in the education system.
Dynamic and Flexible Assessment System. As mentioned earlier, the American grading system is far from ideal. It fails to adequately assess and reveal a student’s talents, simplifying their efforts to a single number or letter. A modern assessment framework would create an environment where students learn for the sake of knowledge, not grades. Certainly, such encouragement will motivate some students. At the same time, the grading system should not be universal but recognize individual approaches. It is particularly important in schools where all students are taught the basics but are assessed as if they were going to work for NASA right away.
Transparent and Equal Government Funding. Finally, the fundamental funding problem is solved by the transparency of public financing. The community has the right to see what their school needs and how it is supplied. Moreover, the state should set decent minimum conditions for school provision and monitor the fulfillment of these norms. Given the prevalence of private schools, the difference in supply volume and quality is inevitable. However, making the bare minimum decent is critical so that even schools from low-income neighborhoods can provide students with everything they need.
Bottom line
So, it seems that the American education system really doesn’t fit the category of “American dream.” A lot of problems, from the perennial discrimination that has been addressed for centuries to the obscure funding system, do not give students the knowledge they deserve. However, there is no need to despair! The nation has the power to make a difference by working together. Public awareness of the problem can raise awareness and set the wheels of change. Professional education for teachers, changes in the assessment system, and transparent funding will lay a solid foundation for a high-quality and equitable education system.