This led to reorganization of secondary education into one that would cater to the population's growing industrial democracy and the cardinal principles of secondary education were introduced in 1918. These principles stressed guidance, a wide range of subjects, adaptation of contents and methods to students' abilities and interests, and flexibility of organization and administration. High schools began focusing on stress health, citizenship, vocation education and preparation, ethics and the proper use of leisure, in addition to academic instruction. This was what "comprehensive" means.
Educators continue to experiment with the curriculum and, in the process, there have been more modifications in attitudes and methods than subject matter. Elementary school districts have evolved innovations, such as team teaching, non-graded schools, individualized instruction, open classrooms and programmed learning, while retaining the basic academic structure.
The U.S. has been sailing though a long period of relative economic prosperity and global political power, since the disappearance of a nuclear threat with the collapse of the Soviet Union. But the very real and current threats of terrorism, recession, pollution, racial and ethnic dissensions, starvation, human rights violations, underemployment and population explosion demand sustained response from every one, specifically to education to be more and more future-oriented in anticipating survival and continued success, prosperity and global leadership. These Third-Wave developments prophesied and described by Alvin Toffler in his best-sellers overwhelm the teacher who must develop more options and alternatives in responsive to more and greater demands required of her. It is unfortunate, however, that many of those who make those demands are not too knowledgeable about progressive experiments that worked in the past and now feel the need to "reinvent" options. This lack of knowledge creates what William Ogburn's concept of "a culture lag," which is ignored. Workable options can be arrived at only by keeping tab of past successes and by aligning with the theory and practice education, which depend on the history and philosophy that shaped American schools. Future-oriented-ness demands the education be free of traditional binds and binds to outdated subjects and methods and that more oncoming and unpredictable social economic and political forces will continue to dictate and change schools and demand new perceptions and new programs
From the outsider's point-of-view, the American education system seems to be very confusing. American history and culture reflect no defined or unified national education system or curriculum. Education is not in the hands of the federal government, which does not operate schools, but in the control of the 50 states' districts that maintain school boards. These school districts consist of an elementary school, a middle school or junior high school and a high school. An elementary school consists of kindergarten up to the 5th or 6th grade and most children enter kindergarten at 5 and first grade at 6. A middle or junior high school follows. A middle school consists of grades 6 to 8, a junior high school grades 7 to 9 and a high school grades 9 or 10 to 12. All high school students must take and pass English, math, science and social studies, a physical education or a foreign language subject for one or two semesters. Public education in the U.S. is free and compulsory until the student is 16 or 17. He or she graduates if he or she passes all of the required courses or subjects. The grades given are a for excellent, B for above average, C for average, d for below average and F. For failure. A failure requires the student to repeat the subject.
Latest statistics show that three out of four high school graduates enroll in a college or university. The college or university admission office enrolls the student if it finds his or her high school course of study, high school GPA, SAT mark, written essay and personal interview favorable. GPA is grade point average in high school and SAT is scholastic aptitude test. The types of college degrees are associate,...
American Education System in Trouble? In an enlightening article by writer April Shenandoah, on March 20, 2002, the reality that Americas' education system is in real trouble becomes clearly evident. The writer feels that when a child in America attends school, he is, in fact, more at risk than if he did not attempt to attend. This is because, of late, it has become obvious that most negative influences that
" (Anon.) Sentiments, such as these, are widespread. Philosophies such as behaviorism assert that the environment compels the nature of a child. Biological perspectives believe that the child may be evolutionarily ingrained to act in a certain manner. My philosophy is that the educator is a necessary component in a child's life and that, as remarkable educators have taught us again and again -- such as Marva Collins who created her own
Educational Problems IS THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN TROUBLE? The United States has enjoyed a long history of providing public education for all students. However, many people believe that our educational system does not function well and that it has not for some time. Although multiple ways to improve public education have been tried, the belief persists that our schools produce under-educated students who are under-prepared for college or work. The goal
C. Mayor Adrian Fenty made HIV / AIDS the most important public health priority (Greenberg et al., 2009). Funding from the CDC allowed for a partnership between the D.C. Department of Health's HIV / AIDS Administration and the George Washington University School of Public Health and Healthy Services, which was responsible for the Epidemiology Annual Report for 2007 -- the first to be published for D.C. since 2002 (Greenberg et
Introduction All significant approaches to educational development are always multi-faceted endeavors with several aspects, decisions, dimensions, and alternatives that have to be considered. Since education is a sector that brings many people in society together, any alternatives arrived at should be agreed upon by the majority and common ground reached. Also, because education has different levels in society, the alternatives chosen must be consistent with and align with other alternatives at
American Revolution: A History" by Gordon S. Wood. Specifically, it will contain a narrative review of the book. Wood's book is a modern look at history, and at the results of the American Revolution. While there are numerous books on the subject, this one is relatively easy to read and understand, and short enough not to put off the reader. It is an excellent reference for anyone interested in
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