The Education System in the United States of America - Research Paper Example

Ding Ding Miriam Brock English: 1108 online July20, English Research Paper Introduction The reorganization of the American learning system is a highly contentious issue within social and political systems in the country. The main concern regards public and academic organizations. Issues rise on the current organization of levels in the education structure. The education system in America has been organized in decentralized levels based on the federal constitution. Education in U.S follows a system from early childhood, primary school, through to middle school and secondary school and finally the post secondary education (Christensen, Horn, & Johnson, p. 7). The post secondary education offers non-degree programs leading to certificates, diplomas and degree levels. The system does not have a second or higher doctorate, but it offers post doctorate research programs. Because of this complexities and levels, the system has been labelled as an obsolete system that requires innovation. Contentious issues exist on the current organization of levels in the education structure, the K-12 structure. Most American learners especially in literature and arithmetic have accused the education structure of inadequacies that that lead to academic incapability. The chief demonstrators of the existence of academic structure issues lay on incompetence in employment places, as well as the escalating numbers of dropouts. This shows that instructors do not utilize appropriate mechanisms to enhance knowledge comprehension and retention, and techniques that stimulate learners’ interest in academics. This dissertation scrutinizes academic reforms, the various facets that it possesses, and suggested modifications. Relevant instructional material and qualified teachers comprise valuable educational components for education at home or school. This enables students to learn and gain skills and knowledge. They also contribute to the ability of students to compete for economic security through job competition. Adequate education provides students with the tools required for engagement in appropriate civic adult life (Rowan, & Miller, p. 5). The consequences of lacking the educational facilities and components have led to decline in the standards of education. The disparities and inadequacies of instructional material, teachers and facilities, indicate a systemic and deep flaw in the national educational system. These flaws include incoherent and fragmented approach to national policymaking. They also indicate a flawed system of school finance based inequitable distribution of resources. Varied individuals suggest differing solutions to the problem of academic restructuring in America. Additionally, there have been innumerable transformations of the current structure of American education since commencement. The problem lay with defining the perfect system of organizing and delivering of knowledge in academic institutions. This results to a dilemma because of varied ideologies on educational systems from reformists, as well as scholars. In addition, politicians add to the misunderstanding that surrounds the definition of an ideal structure of education worth implementing. Most politicians voice what they perceive as the anticipation of voters (Futrell, p. 9). They lack an understanding of the reality of the inadequacies in the educational systems, and the requirements for educational reforms. This raises debate on the appropriateness of their ideologies (McClure, Wiener, Roza, & Hill, p. 10). There exists a universal conviction in the global community that education provides an imperative resource that crucial for involving in life’s triumphs. Education provides the perseverance to acquire skills and the determination to attain objectives and achieve high standards. It permits individuals to comprehend skills of life and the value of possessing such skill; hence the need to ascertain its attainment. Consequently, creating a competitive, educational structure crucially contributes to the wellbeing of nations economically and socially. Therefore, educational scholars and researchers should be given the mandate to develop policies that will lead to desirable outcomes of the educational system. Furthermore, there is immense significance in defining the ideal structure of an academic system to settle the issues of educational modification with a vivid objective in mind. Modifying education leads to a transformation of the manner of depiction of information to learners. Thus, it is the obligation of educationalists and policy makers to determine the ideal mechanism to convey information to learners, and the appropriate amount of information at every level of academics (McClure, Wiener, Roza, & Hill, p. 11). Additionally, it is crucial to comprehend that modification of a single strategy that affects a single facet of education, does not amount to an ideal academic structure. It is also extremely intricate to suggest that there is one individual or committee that can create an ideal academic structure. Criticisms will always arise, but it is significant to create an academic structure that optimally integrates the most productive strategies. The necessity for strengthening and reforming the educational system has been raised following numerous research and reports on the appalling state of the education system. Educational reforms are crucial because of the role that education plays in liberating human intellect. Low educational standards can be tied to the declining economy, because individuals do not engage in meaningful economic or social activities. The international and domestic power of the U.S has declined because of low educational standards. Because of these aspects, it has become imperative for the educational system to be reformed to acceptable standards. Quick fixes in educational reforms fail because of understandable reasons. One of these reasons concerns the size of the educational enterprise in United States. The educational system in U.S employs over 3 million individuals, with an annual expenditure of 200 million dollars. It becomes quixotic to think that such an enormous system could be changed quickly. This requires innovation, ideas and resources bound to last for 10 years or more (Futrell, p. 9). In reforming the educational system, collaboration is crucial because no sectors or groups possess the inventiveness, knowledge and resources necessary for reforming the system. Therefore, diversity of effort has the potential to lead to significant impact in the reform process. Teachers should also play an immense role in reforming the educational system. Teachers have the capabilities of providing the required insight into the education system, which has the potential of being a game changer. Reforms cannot also be imposed on teachers because of their centrality in education. Reformists raise the issue of implementation of multicultural mechanisms of education. However, issues arise in defining a multicultural, academic structure. The advocates of this ideology have some scopes of interest such as open-mindedness, ethics amongst other ideologies (Futrell, p. 11). The suggestion of educational modification with regard to multiculturalism in America commenced in the 1960’s. This was due to the surfacing of public rights associations, but the coining of the terminology “multicultural academics” had not occurred. The basis for multicultural structure of academics rose from the notions of the necessity of the U.S to revisit its endeavour of educating diverse affiliations. Moreover, in this epoch, inequality amongst minority affiliations in contrast to the mainstream white culture led to societal concern. The prevailing ideology during that era was the promotion of adaptation of the dominant customs, the whites’ traditions. However, majority of minority affiliates disagree with the adaptation issue. Therefore, this issue remains contentious and creates havoc to date (McClure, Wiener, Roza, & Hill, p. 12). The main explication of this is that the majority of drop out learners in America are from the minority affiliations. This depicts that there are no firm mechanisms that endeavour to capture the interest of these learners by showing them that America appreciates cultural disparity. However, this does not imply that the American academic strategies are entirely responsible for the quandary of minority learners lacking educational stimulation. The societal predicament can be solved through strategy modification to an enormous extent. This is with the comprehension that the minority affiliations are already integral parts of America and have an enormous impact on the economy. Furthermore, it is immensely critical to provide learners with a platform for thinking critically about issues of discussion. This critical pondering produces extremely creative ideologies from students rather than cramming the books’ contents (Rowan, & Miller, p. 11). This technique ensures that learners question the information conveyed to them. This questioning promotes comprehension of facts and hinders the ideology of memorizing information. This crucially assists students in creating innovative resolutions to predicaments facing them in life, as well as in their employment places. The administration can establish this education structure in public associations by retraining staff in these institutions to instil these ideologies. In addition, curriculums need to be revised constantly to ensure integration of emerging trends. Numerous forces and aspects show the need for academic restructuring. These compulsions include learners, staff affiliates, guardians, and societal members. Moreover, these aspects might be internal or exterior factors of development and execution. Collectively, these forces and aspects can positively associate educational transformation when executed to transparency, inclusion, as well as evaluation. It is also crucial to involve learners in reform instigation; this stimulates motivation to learn and execute the procedure of modification (Rowan, & Miller, p. 12). At the institutional level, staff affiliates who are aware of the rationale for modifications should have the chance to examine institutional data to assist with efficient deliberations during the objective setting procedure at the institutional. School management also needs to develop efficient management techniques for directing inclusive processes. The management should also executing requirements carry out evaluation, communicate concerns and facilitate the development of premeditated plans for significant reforms. It is crucial to comprehend that an ideal academic structure is unattainable due to the dynamism of existence in the world. Moreover, criticisms and novel suggestions on education modification in America will always be present that cannot be ignored. Therefore, in implementation of reforms, open-mindedness is crucial. However, it is possible to modify the current American academic structure to competitive levels (Rowan, & Miller, p. 14). This can be accomplished, through modification, to ensure an all-inclusive academic structure, diversification of content in curriculums, retraining of academic staff, modification of curriculums, and commencement of creativity enhancing mechanism (Rowan, & Miller, p. 15). These strategies combined with tolerance for continued modification are significant for lasting academic competitiveness. Works Cited Christensen, M. Horn, B. & Johnson, W. Disrupting Class: How Disrupting Innovation Will Change The Way The World Learns. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Page 5-34. Futrell, M. Transforming Teacher Education to Reform America’s P-20 Education System George Washington University. Washington, D.C., USA, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 2009. Page 3-12. McClure, P. Wiener, R. Roza, M. & Hill, M. Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Public Education. How Local School District Funding Practices Hurt Disadvantaged Students And What Federal Policy Can Do About It. Centre For American Progress, 2008. Page 3-14. Rowan, B. & Miller, R. Organizational Strategies for Promoting Instructional Change: Implementation Dynamics in Schools Working With Comprehensive School Reform Providers. American Educational Research Association, 2012. Page 4-17. Read More