The Education Of The United States Essay - 854 Words

The purpose of education in the United States has been designed to meet the changing needs of society, though never quite fast enough to fully reflect those changes. In its early history, American education reinforced the religious doctrines of the Puritan settlers. During the era of our founders, the purpose of education shifted to crafting democratic citizens. During the Industrial Revolution school became more about preparing students to be future workers, punching out students on a pedagogical assembly line. Many of these early ideas persist into the 21st-century, though there is a greater diversity than ever in educational epistemology. Largely though, the perceived purpose of education in contemporary public schools is to prepare students to become future citizens who participate in the democratic process, to become skilled workers who contribute to the American work-force, and/or to help students to become critical thinkers. The purpose of schooling in the United States is and always has been political, and therefore closely intertwined with the values of Capitalism and the American economy. As a result, the prevailing philosophies of education have been reactionary and not progressive. To fully prepare students for a future we cannot foresee, education must break beyond these limited boundaries. The swift progression of technology over the past century has proven that we cannot simply teach students a set of skills to prepare them for what lies ahead. In TheShow MoreRelatedEducation : The United States1654 Words   |  7 Pagesin this day of society K-12 education is free to every child in the United States, it is difficult for us modern Americans to imagine a world where public schools have not existed. Although, 150 years ago in many places throughout the country, not even elementary education was provided publicly; in fact, even by the turn of the 20th century, some young individuals still did not have entry to free public high schools. To our effor t every American can get a free education and obtain a high school diplomaRead MoreThe Education Of The United States Essay1394 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States is often seen as the world leader in many aspects of life. Throughout the world many different people see the United States as the leader in economy, technology, and democracy. However, one aspect the United States constantly trails behind is, unfortunately education. Whether it is K-12 education, or higher education, the United States is constantly ranked behind countries that are not as wealthy. Unfortunately, throughout time, they still have not improved, but many would argueRead MoreThe Education Of The United States1575 Words   |  7 Pagessince the founding of the United States, few have seriously argued the importance of education to society. Although education was left out of the United States Constitution in the interest of states’ rights, Thomas Jefferson was not alone in believing that â€Å"the m ost important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people†¦ [which is necessary] for the preservation of freedom and happiness.† (251). Despite a consensus on the necessity of education, its actualization hasRead MoreThe Education Of The United States Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesMaking up over fifteen percent of our population, Hispanics are a major part of our society and yet their education rates are the lowest of any group in America. Many Hispanic middle school and high school students come from families with no college degree. Having no college experience forces many families to be reluctant about sending their child off to college once high school is finished. In view of this, schools should offer more college prep programs. Not simply A.P. classes, but courses thatRead MoreThe Education Of The United States928 Words   |  4 Pages The United States is concerned about the education of its citizens. With raised initiatives in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs and standardized education, the government is attempting to reverse declining test scores and prepare American youth for a globally competitive and more technology-based future. Proponents of a STEM education assert that scientific thinking and technical skills are what are needed in a modern economy, while a liberal education is often an unnecessaryRead MoreThe Education Of The United States Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe Education Revolution Currently, the United States is ranked 14th in its educational standard, 17th in educational performance and 24th in literacy (Mark). Compared to the rest of the world, we are behind countries like Poland, China, Finland and New Zealand. For a country that prides itself on its successful western society, what is stopping us from having an education system to match the standards we have put on the rest of our amenities. However, a solution is closer than it seems. AccordingRead MoreThe Education Of The United States1840 Words   |  8 PagesTransformation is necessary. As more knowledge is gained, the less the public seems to know. This, although often ignored, is known by many, but other issues are prioritized. The United States falls behind in the quality and value of its education, while South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and China become leaders in the education sector. Society is threatened, not only by acts of terrorism or the violence seen on the daily news, but by the vast amount of uninformed citizens that partake on important rolesRead MoreThe United States Education System1731 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States have long been held in high esteem by their peers for their higher education system’s ability to produce the best and brightest young adults that can impact the world. Students in our nation have a choice whether or not to attend prestigious higher-level institutions in order to educate themselves and prepare themselves for the job market. The U.S. has an outstanding reputation of educating students as well as making education available to everyone in the country. Whether it beRead MoreThe Education System Of The United States1090 Words   |  5 Pages The education system in the United States is a problem. One problem is that many of the students attending school today live in poverty. Another problem with the education system is that the curriculums are not being altered to the skills needed in the world today. Furthermore, students are not allowed to use their individual learning styles in the classroom. The education system today has many flaws that are not being fixed. Many students in the education system are living in poverty. StudentsRead MorePublic Education : The United States912 Words   |  4 Pages Public education is a good that is privileged to everyone in the United States. While education may seem extensive and unnecessary, especially to youth, achieving an education has benefitted people through the history of the U.S., which in turn benefits the U.S.’s welfare. When Thomas Jefferson advocated the opening of public schools in the early 1800s, his plan was only half fulfilled; only wealthy communities could afford public schools (Watson 2). This remained true until the early to mid 1900s