The Dark Side of The Education System In The USA

Education is the basic tenet of the society – the essential that nurtures the future generation. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that countries worldwide pay major attention to the same and its evolution. But not all countries have enough resources, both in terms of funds and volunteers to do so. Thankfully, world organizations are taking serious steps to make the education world a better place in these backward countries. If you need history case study help then you should contact our top assignment writers.

But do the front-end countries who have the best facilities and who claim themselves to be the world leaders provide quality and efficient education?

Although not all of them, there are few who fail to do so efficiently. And one of them is the United States of America. Surprising right? Based on the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published its global rankings of student achievement in math, reading, and science a few years ago. According to the same, the United States is far from the top ranks when it comes to educational outcomes. According to the most recent PISA results, the United States’ math performance in recent times has dropped by 11 points, placing it in 35th place overall and 20 points below the OECD average. On the other hand, students in the nation performed somewhat above average in reading and science.

The discussion of how to strengthen the educational system in the United States is contentious, difficult, and loaded with huge stakes. Below are five of the first actions lawmakers and other authorities should do in what is certain to be a multi-decade, multistep process to improve student outcomes. This is done in the interest of finding acceptable places to start.

5 Areas to Concentrate in the Education Sector in America

1. Acknowledge and address overcrowding

According to a National Center for Education Statistics research, 14% of US schools are overcrowded. So naturally, the issue is widespread and disproportionately impacts low-income and minority students. For instance, around one in five primary kids in Chicago Public Schools begin the academic year in overcrowded classrooms.

It has repeatedly been demonstrated that classrooms with too many students are less effective:

• Students don’t receive the individualized care or attention they need, and teachers are overworked.
• Students get disinterested, which creates the conditions for leaving school.
• Both teachers and kids experience more stress.

Overcrowding in schools is not a recent problem. According to a survey, the overcrowding in their classrooms left both kids and teachers feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and occasionally disgusted. Additionally, teachers in overcrowded schools frequently complain about a lack of resources or that their facilities are subpar. Due to a lack of space, courses may need to be given in non-instructional spaces like gymnasiums, which can increase stress levels for both students and teachers.

By creating master plans that forbid tolerating even modest congestion, policymakers can start to avoid this issue. Due to potential capacity changes caused by new home projects, this procedure must be ongoing, and maintenance will be required. Legislative task forces with a specific focus can keep up with these changes.

2. Make funding schools a priority

Statistics show that –

• States contribute 44 per cent of total education funding in the United States.
• The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that 34 states channel less funding into education on a per-student basis than they did prior to the recession years.
• Between 2008 and 2016, local school districts cut a net total of roughly 297,000 teaching jobs.

The issue goes beyond states short on cash or a federal government having trouble raising money. It comes down to priorities. Almost every state in the nation spends more on average to imprison an offender than it does to educate an elementary or secondary student.

Some ways the needful can be done are-

• Put in place a progressive tax system

Local and federal governments could afford to support the public educational system by taxing wealthy individuals and companies as they should be taxed. Unfortunately, the political will to implement such a transformation appears to be waning, but with a vocal populace pressing for our society to support its students, things may start to turn around.

• Consider the big picture

The return on this investment is also substantial. For example, in 2008, researchers discovered that spending money on education has an effect on the economy as a whole by raising the gross domestic product (GDP).

• Increase support and financing for teachers

Increased funding for teachers, particularly in underserved areas, should be a priority for policymakers in addition to money for the construction of new schools and the renovation of existing ones. The quality of instruction in less fortunate schools may deteriorate because many teachers opt to work in wealthy communities because of the possibility of higher income or working circumstances. Conversely, students with larger educational needs will profit from the improved teaching quality if policymakers and school administrators can collaborate to recruit and retain instructors at such schools. You can also get psychology case study from case study writers.

3. Address the school-to-prison pipeline

Studies show that –

• More than half of African American male students in urban high schools leave without a diploma. 
• Nearly 60% of these dropouts will serve time in prison at some point throughout their life.

The school-to-prison pipeline problem is complicated, and factors that contribute to it include zero-tolerance policies with severe punishments that were implemented in the wake of 1999.

Policymakers can take deliberate action to stop feeding the pipeline now that these trends are openly acknowledged and addressed by emphasizing restorative justice and avoiding involving young people in the legal system wherever possible.

It is thought that putting more of an emphasis on alternatives to detention and suspension can significantly increase student success and retention. In one instance, a high school district in California focused on restorative justice as a method of conflict resolution and decreased the number of expulsions from 1,096 in the 2010–11 academic year to just 66 in the 2014–15 academic year.

Students who perform below average are more likely to be expelled if schools only evaluate overall student achievement to gauge their progress. Instead, the emphasis in the classroom should be on each student’s unique accomplishment. In addition, the need for security guards, police officers, and zero-tolerance policies—all of which contribute to a harsh and regimented environment—is likely to be diminished in a more understanding and caring school setting.

4. Raise standards for teachers

Studies have revealed—and this shouldn’t surprise—that ineffective teachers are associated with subpar student outcomes. The good news is that it’s one of the easiest areas for policymakers to make a difference. But, first, they must make licensing requirements for teachers clear and increase the bar in places with the poorest student outcomes.

According to the National Education Organization, these modifications promote alternative teacher education programmes that fail to provide teachers with the necessary preparation for the classroom. To ensure that educators are properly qualified for their positions in light of these changes, individual states must raise the bar for teacher certifications.

5. Let the community develop the classroom sessions and curricula

Regarding who makes decisions that affect classrooms and curricula, the educational system has shifted away from teachers and local boards in recent decades. The results of students have suffered as a result. Policymakers aware of this pattern might advocate for a shift away from standardized control and toward community-based institutions with the power and authority to decide how their pupils are educated, such as community-elected school boards. Students can only gain from people coming together with clear messages for policymakers about the improvements they would like to see in their educational systems.

Parting Thoughts

As already mentioned, improving the quality of education in the United States of America is a debatable topic, and how it can be achieved is also under discussion. Various people suggest various things, and the fun fact is that none can be ignored. But however, the points mentioned above have been stated by most authoritative heads around the globe. So the only request is that if you are reading this blog and in any way you can be a part of the change, please do so, for quality education is every children’s right.

About the author –

Winston Joseph is a high school statistics teacher in one of the prestigious schools in Australia. He is associated with MyAssignmenthelp.com to provide guidance to students.