The American education system is different compared
to other countries. Education is primarily the responsibility of state and
local government and having no set norms in the curriculum the system is free
willed. The individual states have great control over what is taught in their schools
but the schools have the freedom to set their own parameters for students. The
preference in States is given to public schools.
Structure
Of the U.S Education System
American Education system is freer and doesn’t
emphasize on marks and cramming as there is in many other countries. The
American Education system can be well understood by explaining the structure in
a detailed manner. In America some children below the age of 5 join
kindergarten to learn some simple stuff. The real compulsory education starts
after the kid joins a proper school. The school comprises of classes starting
from post kindergarten to twelfth grade. Schooling is compulsory for all
children in Unites States. The necessary attendance though varies from state to
state. About 85% of American people prefer public schools mostly because of tax
rebate. Schools are more free willed and plan their ways of educating the
students. By this the students get an opportunity to learn and think their own
way rather than following someone’s footsteps.
Grade system
is followed in US to provide a fair view. The grades start from A and goes up
to F or E. The emphasis is more on debates, assignments, innovation etc. The co-curricular
activities are equally emphasized. There are no marks struck performance
barriers rather every individual is gauged on their innovativeness. They are
allowed to make mistakes & flunk in experimenting new things. After
successful completion of school many students continue to Higher education. In
colleges graduation degrees are provided to students for successful completion
of courses and in case a student completes 2 years of graduation she/he is
provided with Associate Degree. Like high school, the four undergraduate grades
are commonly called freshman, sophomore and junior and senior years
(alternatively called first year, second year, etc.) .Universities are either
public or privately owned. Further if a student continues to study they can opt
for Maters course and in case of any specialization in a particular subject PHD
is preferred. As compared to schooling system the master’s in America is highly
progress oriented.
Obligation towards Special
students
All students with special needs are entitled to a
free and good education. Schools meet with the parents or guardians to work
towards the child’s development and they even create an Individualized
Education Program that determines best placement for the child. Students with
such disability are given least restrictive environment (LRE) that is
appropriate for the student's needs. Public schools hold the accountability for
providing the best education to such kids and any leniency can be escalated
further.
Brief Analysis
Rather than having an organized approach US
Education system is following a outcome based education approach. The Education
system in other countries is more systematized and progress oriented as
compared to US Education system. Public school is unaware of what constitutes
academic fulfillment. The schooling lays the base of a student and public
school teachers fail to understand this point. National Center for Education Statistics determined that many secondary public
school teachers admit their concern is not math, history, science or English
but how to teach their limited knowledge of those subjects. Consequently, the
DOE found half the nation’s 17-year-olds lack math skills commonly taught not
in the 11th grade but in junior high school. So there is a desperate need for
restructuring the education system in America so that the foundation is laid
properly and in a more organized manner.
