United States

The Positives and Negatives of the Advanced Placement Program

March 24, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The Advanced Placement Program, or AP Program, is well-known by many high school students in America today. Many juniors and seniors spend their days with a head in a textbook, trying to tackle reading lists, absorb vocabulary words, and memorize historical dates in efforts to earn the coveted 5 on the AP exam.

The AP program prepares high school students for college-level academics. The programs are available in a number of subject areas, from World History to Latin. Students can take courses designed to help them prepare for the exam, held in the spring of the academic year, or they can study on their own.

The AP program is widely accepted in American high schools, and seems to encourage students to push themselves academically. However, AP courses also run the risk of simply teaching students to perform well on a test rather than learn critical thinking skills.

One of the advantages of taking the AP exam is that students who earn a 4 or a 5 on an AP exam in a certain subject area can receive college credit. For example, a student who earns a 4 in AP English may be exempt from Freshman English in her college. This allows high school students not only to prepare for college, but actually perform at the college level, which can give them a jump start when they matriculate and can alleviate college costs.

AP Programs are so widely accepted among colleges and universities that it is a no-brainer that high-performing high school students, or those students that want a challenge, should take the exams, But it can also be beneficial to consider International Bacchalaureate or other programs that can also provide college credit and academic challenge.

Filed Under: Education, School Board Tagged With: Advanced Placement, High school, United States

Alarming Dropout Rates

January 29, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The dropout rate in American high schools has reached an alarming rate. More than a million students drop out each year despite efforts by the schools, communities, and parents to aggressively approach the problem and come up with a solution. Statistics have consistently shown that high school dropouts are more likely to be unemployed or work in low paying jobs, have more health problems, live close to or below the poverty line, and have a higher chance of becoming a single parent.
Young people who drop out of school before graduating share some of the same characteristics. Students who come from families with a low income are 2.4 times more likely to drop out than those from middle income families, and 10.5 times more likely than those from a high income family.
Race plays a big part in the dropout rate. While white an Asian American students have the lowest rate, Hispanics and African Americans have the highest dropout rate, with Hispanics being twice as likely to dropout than their African American peers.
Students with disabilities also make up a large percentage of students who drop out, at an estimated 36.4% leaving school without a diploma.
Academic performance has proven to be a factor the student dropout rate. Students who do poorly in school or have been held back, making them older than others in their class, are more likely to drop out. Also falling into this category are the students who miss a lot of school and fall behind as a result. Poor academic performance can lead to low self esteem, it also causes students to have lower expectations as to what occupational opportunities are available to them.
Aside from the effects on future earning potential and the problems associated with it, high school dropouts make up a large percentage of prison inmates and death row prisoners.
Statistically, students who stay in school have a much better chance for a successful and productive future.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: African American, High school, United States

An Overview of the American Education System

December 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

The United States welcomes hundreds of students who come to study from other countries each year. As many of them will soon discover, the American education system is significantly different than that used by most other countries.

There is no national curriculum that is overseen by the federal government. Instead, each state is responsible for governance of their specific school system. Major decisions are made by the local school board (comprised of people who are either elected by their community members, or appointed to the post by the local government) or, the state’s Department of Education. The main function of the school board is to ensure that state education standards are met, and to set policies.

Grade levels are usually broken down into elementary, middle and high school. Students at these levels are not required to pay tuition, although some education funding is provided for by resident’s tax dollars. If a student decides to go on to study at the university level, tuition costs do come into play. However, there are numerous scholarship programs that assist with the cost of a university education for deserving applicants. In some cases, universities will even offer full scholarships to students who demonstrate that they are able to meet minimum grades throughout their time in college.

Education is required for students until age sixteen, or eighteen depending on the state in which they reside. There are many programs for high school students that allow them to begin attending classes at a local community college during the latter portions of their time in high school. This allows for the option of applying credits earned towards the general education requirements at many universities, which often shortens the overall time spent at university, in addition to giving students a taste of coursework and demands at the university level.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Colleges and Universities, Curriculum, Department of Education, Education, High school, State school, Student, United States

Standardized Testing In The American Education System

November 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Standardized tests are a reality that drives the American education system. Designed to survey the knowledge level of students in a uniform way, they are something that students are introduced to nearly as soon as they enter the classroom.

However, such testing requirements often make teachers feel forced into adjusting their curriculum so that instead of teaching concepts that are most needed, they feel compelled to focus on those specific areas that will be covered within the standardized tests.

The rigid requirements of standardized tests are often not the best way to judge a student’s comprehension of a subject, simply because so many students fall under the descriptor of being a “bad test taker”. This does not necessarily mean that a student has failed to understand the concepts which are taught, but merely that they have not mastered the complex skill of converting their knowledge into high scores on standardized tests.

However, some schools are mandated into administering the tests so as not to lose much-needed federal funding, which often is a driving factor for schools in low-income areas that are already struggling to stay afloat.

Thankfully, many schools from the elementary level all the way to college are beginning to adopt the idea that standardized test scores are far from the only way to judge a student’s knowledge about a particular subject. Many universities are choosing to favor such items as a personal statement or letters of recommendation from former teachers, instead of test scores to determine whether a student should be admitted.

However, although many feel that there are better ways to categorize student abilities than a standardized test, they are still widely used in today’s education system, and will likely remain so until major and lasting steps in education reform occur. Until then, standardized tests will be prevalent.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Education, Education in the United States, Education reform, Standardized test, Student, Teacher, testing, United States

The Impact of Education on Society

November 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The educational system has a direct influence on our society across many levels. Society is impacted from the funding received through governmental allocations to the impact that education has on our economy. Education begins at home during the pre-school years and continues on through the elementary years, junior and high school years. The pursuit of higher education is directly related to the future success of our country. America must ensure that the future leaders in our global economy are equipped to succeed. Supporting higher education is a key component of maintaining America’s competitive presence in the global economy.

Every individual has different interests and should pursue careers that compliment those interests. Parents and teachers can have a direct impact on encouraging a young student to pursue their dream. Parents should avoid an attempt to push their child in the direction chosen by the parent. This type of activity can end in disaster. Identification of a students interests and abilities can assist in helping a child grow stronger in those areas. Providing information regarding future educational opportunities that are in line with a students interest will promote higher education. Children should be successful in their educational endeavors and understand the options available to them that will ensure a successful future as an adult.

The level of parental support regarding higher education will be a deciding factor of their child attending college. Parents need to be in tune with how their child interacts with the subjects being taught and build upon areas of strength. This will lay the foundation of success in a child’s life. Once a student has decided what their life goals are there should be movement towards identifying how those goals can be met. Research of the schools that can support the future goals of a student well before a child is ready to take those steps will provide a seamless transition into adult life.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Administration (business), DREAM Act, Education, Education reform, Higher education, Student, United States, United States armed forces

Home Schooling

November 17, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Various reasons have resulted in a shift towards home schooling for many parents. Parents may choose to home school their child for religious reasons or a difference of opinion regarding the curriculum offered. Sometimes the decision is based on the limited educational resources in the community that the family lives. Behavioral issues experienced by a student may result in a home schooling educational environment. Once a family has decided that home schooling is the best option they need to research the laws in their state that applies to those who teach at home. Selection of a home school support group will provide the support that home schooling families need.

Once the decision to home school has progressed to the point of begining the experience there will be many steps to complete. Home schooling allows flexibility with scheduling the day. This education option also allows for a larger selection of educational activities. A regular classroom setting takes place during established hours, homeschooling can be set up to compliment family needs. A successful home school program will include an organized approach. Choosing a child’s educational curriculum will be the next step in the program. Curriculum options include used curriculum, religious based curriculum as well as the curriculum offered by home schooling publishers. Parents can obtain information about curriculum options by discussing the subject with a home schooling support group or researching information available online. An important final step in the home schooling education process is record keeping. Records should be detailed, organized an available for review as outlined in the home schooling procedures for the state that a family lives in.

Choosing the home school environment for your child is not a decision to take lightly. The responsibilites can be overwhelming but the results of a committed parent will enrich the life of their child.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Child, Curriculum, Education, Family, Homeschooling, K through 12, Parent, United States

The Fight To Improve Flaws in the American Educational System

November 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Many students in the American school system find themselves pulled in multiple directions because of differing opinions on behalf of the school board and administrators. Ultimately, this stifles the learning process and shifts the focus away from education.

There has been much debate over the role of religion in the classroom. Opinions have flared, even to the point of where the decision of whether or not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance has become a hot-button issue. Even though religion has played a role in the development of much of Western history, many textbook creators are hesitant to include any information of a religious nature within their curriculum content. This has become especially prevalent when teachers are called upon to teach topics such as evolution, or how the world came to be formed. Many have chosen to take the middle ground, in which multiple points of view are considered, and most parents are satisfied with the approach.

Still other critics of the education system in America note that major changes in the grading system need to occur. They assert that far too much importance is placed on bolstering a student’s self-esteem, even going as far as to award a higher grade than the student might deserve, just to ensure that the student feels good about themselves and their efforts. However, the fact is that grading will always be a largely subjective method of measuring achievement, especially within the realm of projects and essays.

Although there are some weaknesses in the American education system, there is much evidence to suggest that people are passionate about making a change for the better in the areas mentioned above, among others. It is important to remember that although education reform will be a long and effort-filled process, often the most lasting changes start with just a small but dedicated effort.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Education, Education in the United States, Education reform, Learning, Pledge of Allegiance, State school, Student, United States

The History of Education

November 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The history of education highlights the significant changes that have taken place in the educational process. The early years of human existence presented a very different type of learning. Knowledge was passed down from one generation to the next regarding traditions and religion. This knowledge was conveyed in the form of stories, folklore, legends and song. Skills were taught from one generation to the next. When a career was chosen for a child and there were no family experience related to the career an apprenticeship was established. An apprenticeship would involve separation from family and volunteering ones work in exchange for the knowledge received.

During the early years of civilization the experience of a more formal education was limited to the wealthy and those in positions of authority. As learning processes evolved the churches became educational centers for seekers of knowledge. With the passage of time the pursuit of education became available to a wider range of individuals. Limitations to education included the need of families for their children to work. This need overshadowed the desire for an education.

The history of education eventually resulted in increased educational opportunities for a wider population. Many of the early colleges were established by religious organizations for the purpose of educating ministers. The 1700s brought forth many of these institutions. During the 1800s an elementary education became compulsory in advanced countries. These schools were generally one room school houses where all age groups were taught together. Education in the 1900s experienced tremendous changes. The issues of segregation and limitations placed on the female population were addressed and education was provided to all walks of life at no cost. From the late 1900s to present time changes to the system now address requirements for disabled students. The changes that have occured in education during the last 100 years is extensive and has created a positive system to work with in the future.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Apprenticeship, Developed country, Education, Higher education, Learning, Methods and Theories, One-room school, United States

Buckling Down

November 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There is no shortage of people who are concerned about their finances in today’s economy. One of the consumer groups who are most concerned with their finances are students. With low incomes and little money in savings, it is difficult for students to make ends meet at times. Many students are taking time to reorganize their expenses. They are taking time to cut out the items that are not necessary, including things like electronics and vacations. They may have antique cars that they are paying classic car insurance on each month. This expense may be one that needs to go.

Taking time to go over expenses is the only way to make vital changes to the economic state of any household, including students. It is important to find out what is vital in the budget and what items can be let go of. One of the most important ways to survive the bumpy economy that has taken hold of the United States is to cut back on frivolous spending. When going over the budget, remember to first pay into a savings account. This may sound backward but most of the great financial minds will tell you the way to survive is to pay yourself first, then your bills, and so on.

Having a savings built up in the event of a catastrophe is vital to survival. These economic times have taught everyone that there is no room for laying cash out unnecessarily and that every penny needs to be accounted for and placed in use after some serious consideration. Survival for many depends on making sure that every cent is being used appropriately for their family. For many this means no more spending outside of the needs of the household. This is a difficult lesson to be learned but one that will stay with the students and their families for generations.

Filed Under: Administration Tagged With: Budget, Saving, United States