Why is it that American Education Grades 1-12 is so far behind from the rest of the world?

Question

For example, in El Salvador kids usually begin learning Algebra 1 in the 4th or 5th grade while kids here in America usually start learning it in 9th grade and some even fail it and have to retake it in 10th grade. In summer 2008 I am moving to El Salvador to complete the 12th grade and I am so worried the kids in El Salvador are so far ahead from the ones here in the USA. The only advantage I probably have over them is my English nothing else. Why is it that american education is so bad? Are the kids to blame who usually join social cliques like rocker, prep, ghetto, emo etc. or are the teachers to blame who some don't teach at all and are more worry about getting a raise. or is it the American Education Curriculum?

Answer 1

Part of it is also that many of the other countries are using rote learning (which is very common in the developing world) where they don't actually understand what it is they have been taught (i.e. they just recite words on a test but would fail if given an essay question).

There are also a lot of problems with the US system (including all the time wasted teaching an obsolete measuring system along with the fact that a lot of teachers don't know what it is they are teaching, something that many developing countries have a lot worse) but to compare it to something that uses rote learning is not a good comparison.

There also tends to be a selection effect of everyone coming to school in developed countries while developing countries usually have the better off kids in school with the worse off ones wishing they could go to school.

Answer 2

I think the first thing you should consider is where are you getting your information? Face it, kid. Most foreigners love it when the U.S. looks bad, and the education issue has been a staple of the foreign press to blast the US. Statistics is the freakin' science of lying and can provide whatever numbers you want or need. So the next time some yaboo from across the border throws some stat in your face about US schools, remember we can produce the same malarky about their educational system. As for South American schools - uh, it's not hard to look like a great school when only the rich are allowed/can afford to attend. Where's the school stats for the cardboard box shadowcity surrounding Mexico City? Hell, how are those border-town cities like Nuevo Laredo fairing? If their school system is so great, why are most illegal immigrants terribly uneducated? I'll tell you why - only the rich can afford to attend. And it's not hard to look good when the population for your "stats" is so selective.

Second, if our schools are so damn bad, why are we STILL the leader in collegiate level education?! And don't buy into that b.s. about foreigners dominating our schools. US citizens are still the vast majority of students attending US collegiate institutions. Yes, there are a lot of lazy US students out there, but you know what? There are a ton of hard working ones, too. They just don't make the news. And everytime some anti-US ingrate starts spouting off about how lazy we are - ask yourself if they are really that upset about the lack of competition? Do they REALLY wish every US student was out to crush their 3.6 gpa? I doubt it. People that rant about that stuff are awfully myopic. I bet they'd complain about the stiff competition if it was the other way around.

Finally, whatever social problems may be present in US schools are present everywhere else. You have bullies and cliques in foreign schools, as well, but at least here in the US there's enough of a legal eye on the situation to provide you some protection. You tell us in a year how well you were protected in El Sal, ok?

I think after you've been to El Sal for a year you might have a more favorable attitude about the US, young buck. I've spent some time down there and believe me, you have it better here by far. Don't be ignorant to your blessings, and learn to appreciate the devil you know, 'cause it's usually better than the one you don't.

Answer 3

We actually talked about that on Monday in our school. We were told the reason is was because in other countries at a certain grade kids may be taken off to work. The students that look like they can excel the most stay in school to continue learning. So while in El Salvador only the smarter kids are taking the test in America the same test is given to all kids even if they know it or not.

Answer 4

This is a broad, sweeping generalization. The graduation rate (heck, even the attendance rate is low) is around 50% v. 76% in the U.S. Please remember that children learn at different speeds. Unfortunately, in the U.S. we don't have the luxury to cater to each and every child. We cater to the least common denominator. If we were to teach Algebra in 4th or 5th grade (instead of 7th, not 9/10), the top 25% would get it, and the other 75% would be left behind. So we dumb it down, until we get a more acceptable rate like 70%. Educational programs in Europe, and Asia are better funded, than in the U.S. and their schedule is more focused. The slower kids get left behind, until they succeed.

Tenure makes it impossible to get rid of ineffective teachers. Teachers are paid less than median salary (for 4+ years of college w/loans) and are usually saddled with 20 to 30 children, including special needs students (top 10% + bottom 10%) This is not an excuse, this just means it's nearly impossible to give students the individual attention they deserve.

Answer 5

While your observations on American education aren't far off the mark, they are too general. There are great schools in AMerica where the students are doing well.

In the best schools, children are taught to think and reason. In many foreign (ie not US based) schools, the emphasis is on memorize and repeat. So while their results may look more impressive, the ability of the graduates to think outside the box, to apply what they have learned, is also somewhat limited.

On the other hand, American students tend to place more emphasis on their clothes and phones than on study. And the parents do nothing to change that focus. On average, American students are over-indulged and less motivated than their foreign counterparts.

You are probably right to be concerned, and you should be prepared to work really hard.

Answer 6

Several reasons really. Schoolroom ratios. The government really needs to "raise The Bar" in their curricular. Money attracts the better teachers from grade school clear through college.Parents involvement is paramount! Being the wealthiest country in the world really makes one wonder why this would even be an issue! You've asked a very good question and this deserves more than just an answer.

Answer 7

When education is made compulsory, things just start to go downhill... did you know that in Massachusetts the local militias had to march kids to school and physically take them from their homes? The parents knew what was going on all right, and they didn't want their kids going. Our literacy rate was almost 100 percent before schooling became compulsory. You can't force learning, you can only facilitate the desire.........

If you're interested more in the history of education check out some of John Taylor Gatto's books....... "Dumbing us Down" is good, "A different kind of teacher" is really good, and his "The underground history of american education" is his masterpiece. It's one of those truly jaw-dropping reads...... (I love that kind!) Have fun!

Answer 8

Well it could also be because we learn the U.S. system like inches,feet,miles,pounds and then by the time we get to algebra or geometry or 8th grade science we start doing SI units like meters,liters,and grams the rest of the world is mostly just ahead of us in mathematics because they really do not have to learn our measuring systems because we are the only ones that use it.

Answer 9

it's the government that does it to make people of this country dumber so that they won't aspire to do great things with their lives and so the ones that do actually get high paying jobs are the ones working FOR the gov. or "the man"....in the end it's all just a big conspiracy to control the minds of the people in this country so if you want to be smarter and better you can't rely on just what you are taught you must learn about the world on your own and be in charge of your education and what you allow people to put into your head....

Answer 10

Rampant materialism effects every level of our society.
The brightest minds get sucked up into high paying jobs.
Education is not an important priority in our American culture. People have come to think that individuals are more important than society as a whole.