Education

American Education system: Challenges and Prospects

American Education system: Challenges and Prospects

Education is can be described as the social institution through which the members of a society are taught the skills, knowledge, norms, and values needed for them to become good and productive members of the society. It’s the basis for socialization. Education can both be formal and informal. Formal education can be described as schooling, a form of learning that occurs in schools under professionals who are specially trained for this purpose. Informal education can take place primarily at home where the parents do the teachings without them undergoing any professional training. It’s just verbal.

Brief History of Education in the United States of America

The United States of America is described as one of the countries of the world having an extensive and diverse educational system. It is a strong educational learning system as provided learning levels for the young children, youths and adults starting from the nursery class to the higher learning levels. Because of the industrial revolution in America in mid-1800, there was a great demand for literacy of her citizens to acquire the industrial skills needed for the development of their country. The educational institutions were organized by individuals, religious organizations, and the states. This provides a great opportunity for children and individuals of all background to have access to a formal education in America. The American education system also started in an informal way until the 20th century.

In the early 20^th century, there had been a great rapid development in the educational system of America. Formal education was introduced and more schools were established by private individuals, religious organizations and the states. Students are constantly exposed to scientific, educational, professional, religious and engineering education in diverse areas of life.

With a great record of educational improvement in America, yet the system had been faced with many challenges some of which will be discussed below and their liable prospects or way through.

3 major Educational challenges in America

The number of days students attends school in a year

The amount of time and the number of days spent in school has a significant contributing factor to the amount of formal learning and knowledge that a student will acquire. Because the students in America spends a minimum of 175 days in school which is too low compared to other developed countries like Korea, it will make these students less prepared for the challenges of the 21^st century.

Increasing the number of days students go to school and the time spent in school will give more chance to the students to fully acquire the necessary education needed in the 21^st century.

Inequity in funding for schools

Inequity in how funds are allocated and distributed to schools has been a major challenge to the education system in America. Some schools are less funded and have decreased the rate at which educational resources are provided to students which make them not compatible with their colleagues from other schools. Each state should, therefore, pass that law that will enforce equity in school funding.

Insufficient number of teachers in schools.

Keeping teachers in the classroom is becoming an alarming issue we all should worry about. Teachers are leaving the classroom. Sometimes they leave because they are not prepared for some of the realities they face (i.e. student mental health issues, families, mandates and accountability, high stakes testing, low salaries, etc.) or because of the school leadership that does not put its teachers’ welfare into consideration.

Organizing new residency programs and professional improvement training will help them get prepared for unforeseen challenges, how to handle them and revive in them the love for the teaching profession.

If you are interested in American Education, consider visiting Teach for America

Written By: Wisdom Hammond