Education in America

[dontcare97]

It's no surprise that in recent years america has fallen sharply from it's number on spot at number one to about 166 in the educational rankings in the world. Many say that education needs more funding but I watched a documentary "The Cartel" that says otherwise. "The Cartel" takes place in New Jersey, my home state, and details the terrible system that is my education. Some of the poorest city in the state has the highest budget for schools but their test scores come back lower and lower year after year.

In my state only less than 40% of eight graders can read at an eight grade level. In Newark, one of the worst cities on the East coast, 1 out of every 3 highschoolers will drop out.

These are alarming numbers that reflect not only percentages in my state but in all of America. What could America do to save itself and its future generations?

[RoseyCadaver]

I wouldn't say it's the Education system persay,but it's the people not using it.I went to a private school,so I have no idea how good our public school systems are.I'm now off to high school next year,and it's a public school.From what I gathered,if I stay in the AP classes(which I have the grades too)then I'll be fine.But I have seen some of my peers from public and private schools and see how serious they take their education(not good).I have not taken school in other countries,but I can say America's education system isn't really the bad thing(or at least I believe),but it's some of the students.This is just an observation I made with the people who live here.

It's actually sad how people don't care about their education,and don't spend their time doing "use full" and productive things.

I will say,our education system could be better with some teachers,and help out students more.I don't like the "A" is good and "F" is bad system.One of my teachers,who I wasn't too fond of,did have a good comment.She said that you shouldn't be completely grade,but also on how much the student participates,and seems to be paying attention.I also don't like the whole We'll teach this now and go back to it later sometime.I think the same things should be taught the whole year,so you won't forget it later.

I also find it sad that school's are phasing out on arts.I think part of learning would be arts.People need to express them selves,it's just weird being on of those cubicle people.Maybe if schools focused on arts,we'd have a culture(as in America)doing something a little more productive.It may be me,but I'm not a fan of living like a bee hive.

So I think our education system could be improved,yes.

[TheTrevor]

America doesn't really push kids to get the best out of their education, plus so many kids are lazy bums and drop out at the first chance they get. america needs to become strict about their education so that there wont be idiots walking the streets. lol

[dontcare97]

I go to a charter school now but my whole school life up to eight grade was in public schools. It hard because the young grades before middle school don't offer honors classes. you are forced in with everyone else. It's hard to learn when the teacher spends an hour just disciplining kids. You can't get the attention you need and unless you are motivated like i was, have a good chance of failing.

The A to F system is dumb as well. It doesn't help anyone or tell you how to do better. The art programs are important but at what cost?

[Amnesiac]

The education system is fucked because it tries to categorize individual students instead of focusing on their specific talents and abilities. Schools and the states that run them spend too much time constructing arbitrary curriculums, standardized testing systems and other ridiculous government fabrications. In addition to that, many reading, writing and social studies courses are plagued by political biases and red tape. Add to that the lack of competitiveness in the teaching market caused by low salaries and mediocre teacher benefits and you have a public education system doomed to half of what it could be.

All of these problems could be solved by a transition to a fully privatized school system, for vouchers for low-income families. In addition, schooling should not be mandatory and homeschooling should become a more favorable prospect for parents. For too long, the U.S. has had a public education system that doesn't serve its students' individual abilities. It's been turned into some sort of dull, fascist machine that spits out mounds of shit.

Not only would converting, over time, to a privatized system benefit students – who are, after all, the ones who need to be focused on – it would give students and parents a variety of options on what kind of education they're interested in receiving and what career paths they're specifically interested in. Also, it would get rid of the horrible entrenchment on student rights that currently exists in the public education system, as well as all the bitchy teachers.

[MonsterBear]

America is corrupted and education is too. I hate the way we are graded and the classes we have to take. just because you get an F doesnt make you and idiot. i rather have a school where students get to choose the classes they want to take. I also think its the lack of motivation and disipline to go to school. have you guys ever wonder why people say asians are so smart? because our parents are strict as fuck due to their previous life style. Another option is homeschooling which would be an effecient way for parents or teachers to focus on the student more unlike public schools teachers dont care most of the time, if you want help than you go afterschool or before school.
i wished i was homeschooled.

[RoseyCadaver]

All of these problems could be solved by a transition to a fully privatized school system, for vouchers for low-income families. In addition, schooling should not be mandatory and homeschooling should become a more favorable prospect for parents. For too long, the U.S. has had a public education system that doesn't serve its students' individual abilities. It's been turned into some sort of dull, fascist machine that spits out mounds of shit.



This.I've have always felt this(well with a less colorful vocabulary :P).But alas,I believe the American government is too controlling and won't do this.But I do think the closest thing we'll get to is a charter school.Now they make technically be public,but those are some good schools(the ones I know anyways.)


No "standardized test" can tell you how truly smart you are.All it is a bunch of statistics and numbers,and they haven't been doing a good job for us.

And yes,America should have a public schooling system that let's you choose your classes(I know you kind of do in high school).If they want to know how to fix schools,they should be asking the people going to them,not the "experts".

[Angel Androgynous]

Let me put it in a much shorter way:


Public education in America....




sucks.

[dontcare97]

Yeah it does. I think that good teachers get paid too little and horrible teacher aren't fired fast enough. Privatizing education won't solve everything, unless bad teacher's have an incentive to be good, then they will continue to be crappy. Unless we get students to give a crap about school, they are going to continue to drop out. Also scholarships can't be given to everyone. I feel that scholarships should be given to lower income families with kids that need it the most. It isn't fair that middle to high income students abuse and misuse opportunities some kids don't get to have. people don't want to do homework while other kids have protect themselves from being stabbed in the fucking hallway. Some of the stuff I've seen in schools are ridiculously scary. There are armed police in my middle school. In a different county, they have an full functioning jail section in the goddamn school. A jail in the school! then we have students say that friends are more important or that the teacher is dumb. Thank god you have a teacher that actually gives a shit.

[Amnesiac]

And yes,America should have a public schooling system that let's you choose your classes(I know you kind of do in high school).If they want to know how to fix schools,they should be asking the people going to them,not the "experts".

Nicely put. Many states have graduation requirements that force students to take courses in the most unnecessary fields. Texas, which easily has one of the most horrible, unprofessional and disgustingly conservative education boards in the United States, requires students to take courses in foreign language, physical education, health education and the fine arts. Requires. Why they can't understand the concept of a student choosing what they're interested in independently is beyond me. In addition to that, physical education/sports shouldn't even be part of the public education system.

My school district spends tens of millions of dollars on sports stadiums and other infrastructure annually that have absolutely no place being run by the government and are better off left to private leagues. I'm sick and tired of the government telling me to fucking exercise. I go to school to learn. I go to my local gym to exercise. Those two shouldn't be mixed, goddammit. I don't care if promoting school sports teams "brings the community together," it's a complete waste of money, something that isn't the job of the government to put together.

[Angel Androgynous]

Nicely put. Many states have graduation requirements that force students to take courses in the most unnecessary fields. Texas, which easily has one of the most horrible, unprofessional and disgustingly conservative education boards in the United States, requires students to take courses in foreign language, physical education, health education and the fine arts. Requires. Why they can't understand the concept of a student choosing what they're interested in independently is beyond me. In addition to that, physical education/sports shouldn't even be part of the public education system.

My school district spends tens of millions of dollars on sports stadiums and other infrastructure annually that have absolutely no place being run by the government and are better off left to private leagues. I'm sick and tired of the government telling me to fucking exercise. I go to school to learn. I go to my local gym to exercise. Those two shouldn't be mixed, goddammit. I don't care if promoting school sports teams "brings the community together," it's a complete waste of money, something that isn't the job of the government to put together.

Where I go to school, they have this thing where you have to run one mile in a certain amount of time based on your BMI. The higher your BMI the faster you have to run. And one HAS to pass those tests. If they don't, they just have to retake them over and over again. This one kid had to run a mile in 4 minutes! IN 4 MINUTES! :/

[dontcare97]

.

My school district spends tens of millions of dollars on sports stadiums and other infrastructure annually that have absolutely no place being run by the government and are better off left to private leagues. I'm sick and tired of the government telling me to fucking exercise. I go to school to learn. I go to my local gym to exercise. Those two shouldn't be mixed, goddammit. I don't care if promoting school sports teams "brings the community together," it's a complete waste of money, something that isn't the job of the government to put together.

I understand that. In Newark that spent billions of on a new track and football field. The same place where 1 out of 4 seniors read past a fifth grade level.

[Amnesiac]

Where I go to school, they have this thing where you have to run one mile in a certain amount of time based on your BMI. The higher your BMI the faster you have to run. And one HAS to pass those tests. If they don't, they just have to retake them over and over again. This one kid had to run a mile in 4 minutes! IN 4 MINUTES! :/

Yeah, down here they have the same physical fitness exam bullshit. Thankfully there's no consequence for doing badly at it, and it's not as severe, but it's still a phenomenal waste of time and, as I see it, invasion of privacy.

Hey, government, fuck you. It's not your job to "monitor my health," and it shouldn't be your job to teach me diluted, biased bullshit on a daily basis, either.

I understand that. In Newark that spent billions of on a new track and football field. the same place where 1 out of 4 read at past a fifth grade level.

Exactly. Recently, we've had some severe budget cuts in education here in Texas (more reason to privatize the system), and instead of slashing unnecessary classes, such as sports, my school district decided to fire dozens of teachers and other staff instead.

[Angel Androgynous]

Yeah, down here they have the same physical fitness exam bullshit. Thankfully there's no consequence for doing badly at it, and it's not as severe, but it's still a phenomenal waste of time and, as I see it, invasion of privacy.

Hey, government, fuck you. It's not your job to "monitor my health," and it shouldn't be your job to teach me diluted, biased bullshit on a daily basis, either.



Exactly. Recently, we've had some severe budget cuts in education here in Texas (more reason to privatize the system), and instead of slashing unnecessary classes, such as sports, my school district decided to fire dozens of teachers and other staff instead.
Same here. We had an amazing sixth grade teacher get laid off.... while they got some new stuff for the school gym. ._. *coughUselessDanceDancerevolution*

[Amnesiac]

Same here. We had an amazing sixth grade teacher get laid off.... while they got some new stuff for the school gym. ._. *coughUselessDanceDancerevolution*

The teachers who got laid off here were the newest, too, which is definitely a great way to encourage people to look at a career in teaching.

But yeah, the amount of money that's put into physical education is just unbelievable. It's no wonder the United States is putting out less professionals and intellectuals; so many students focus on sports and perform below their potential. Really, it's just sad.

[dontcare97]

My county missed no budget cuts by 12 votes. There was only 400 plus votes on each side. So only 800 plus people voted. My town is huge. There's like a thousand kids in just my middle school. This shows that event he parents don't care enough.

[RoseyCadaver]

In addition to that, physical education/sports shouldn't even be part of the public education system.

My school district spends tens of millions of dollars on sports stadiums and other infrastructure annually that have absolutely no place being run by the government and are better off left to private leagues. I'm sick and tired of the government telling me to fucking exercise. I go to school to learn. I go to my local gym to exercise. Those two shouldn't be mixed, goddammit. I don't care if promoting school sports teams "brings the community together," it's a complete waste of money, something that isn't the job of the government to put together.

These two :thumbsup:.It's disgusting how much emphasis schools put more money and time on sports and what not.I can understand teaching a child to be fit and healthy,but sports is a whole other ball game(no pun intended).But you're right,if a child(or teenager speaking on our terms) doesn't wish to do these silly sports,they shouldn't have to.I have no problem with them teaching physical education and offering sports,but at my school, it was gross how nice the award for sports players were and how little the educated got(as in honor roll and shit).


And yes,way too much money goes to sports programs versus putting it into education.I am still for the voucher for private school.If someone wants their child to be into sports,or if the child desires to be in'em,then let them go to a school focused on sports.If a child wishes to go into arts,let them got to a school focused on that.Not just one generalized group,that is not how most work is.Sure you will require some basic skills here and there,but it's not like you need to be straight "A" students in all classes.