Question

How does contemporary American schooling reflect societies values or priorities? In your observation and experience, do "we" really value education? Remember to explain!

Answer 1

Contemporary education is the introduction of learning practices that draw on the experiences of students, both inside and outside the classroom, thereby allowing them to understand that they are acquiring specific skills that they consider to be important to the world outside the school system. Storytelling, conversation, instruction, practice, and guided study provide educational methods. Education is often under the guidance of educators, but it is also possible for learners to educate themselves.

Since enacting the 2001 "No Child Left Behind Act," the U.S. has tried to combat national criticism, forcing teachers to make almost all their students meet a certain standard and sustain annual growth. Many considered this an impossible feat because not all students are "average," and teachers are unable to develop young minds miraculously (as if that has not always been their goal) without a drastic change in the system through which they have to operate. Since then, this Act has been replaced by the 2015 Every Student Success Act, removing immunity and granting the states the power to create their own transparency and teacher evaluation procedures.

Attempts by the U.S. to resolve their failed education system were ambitious, but overall simplistic, shallow, and unhelpful. Sometimes it's just about fudging numbers and pushing through unprepared children. It's easy to see why, with teachers facing sanctions and school districts vying for money.

America, of course, has a lot of kids learning English as a second language, which reduces the rate moderately. Children living in poor communities may not see school as a solution to their problems, or as a long-term investment they may not have the immediate resources to continuously pursue school.