Transcript Education in the United States of America

Education in the
United States of America
Gao Guangyan, Daniel Lo, Ong Woo Han
4L July 2005 Raffles Institution
Motto:
E Pluribus Unum (1789–present)
(Latin: "Out of Many, One")
In God We Trust (1956–present)
Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
Introduction
• Democratic constitutional federal republic of
fifty states
• 296,600,000 Population est. (2005)
• GDP per capita: $41,557
• Largest Religion: Christianity
• Main Language: English
Education In the USA
• A highly decentralized system
• Funding, curriculum decisions: at the local level
through school boards.
• Standards generally set by state agencies.
• The federal government, through Department of
Education, involved with funding of some programs
• Also have nonprofit private schools.
• Schools teach primarily in English
Goals and Purposes
• Satisfy the demand for
highly skilled workers
• The key to maintaining competitiveness and
prosperity in the global economy.
• Evident in recent reports showing that raising student
achievement --> national economic growth.
• Reports estimate significant improvements in
education over a 20 year period can lead to as much
as a 4% GDP growth, or over US$400b.
Literacy Rate
• Total: 97% Literacy Rate
• Male: 97% Literacy Rate
• Female: 97% Literacy Rate
Investment
• Correlation between education and
economic growth --> prompted
government to increase spending in
education.
• US$501.3b, 4.27% of GDP in 2004
• US$482.0b in 2003
• US$462.7b in 2002
School Grades
Pre-School, Nursery School: Under 5
High school
Elementary School
9th Grade (Freshman): 14–15
Kindergarten: 5–6
10th Grade (Sophomore): 15–16
1st Grade: 6–7
11th Grade (Junior): 16–17
2nd Grade: 7–8
12th Grade (Senior): 17–18
3rd Grade: 8–9
4th Grade: 9–10
College or University
5th Grade: 10–11
(usually four years)
Freshman: 18–19
Middle school (also Junior High)
Sophomore: 19–20
6th Grade: 11–12
Junior: 20–21
7th Grade: 12–13
Senior: 21–22
8th Grade: 13–14
Elementary School
• Students cannot choose their course structure
• Remain in a single classroom
• One teacher for the entire school day
• Education is hardly standardized
• Student learns basic algebra, grammar and spelling, and
a year of state, national and world history.
• Teaching of science varies greatly
- one of the most undertaught subjects,
• Most teachers only have a degree in English or education
Middle School
• Students enroll in class schedules
• Classes from several teachers
• Classes include science, mathematics, english,
social science courses, interspersed with a
reading and/or technology class.
• PE is compulsory from kindergarten to 9th grade.
• Electives are generally limited to only one or two
classes.
High School
• Students have more control
• Can choose their core classes.
• Most students take a broad variety of classes
• Curriculum varies widely in quality and rigidity
• Students take one or more standardized tests
- based on postsecondary education preferences
- and local graduation requirements
• The SAT and ACT are the most common
Elective Courses
Some school offer elective courses such as:
•
Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography,
film)
•
Performing Arts (drama, band, orchestra, dance)
•
Shop (woodworking, metalworking, automobile)
•
Computers (word processing, programming, graphics)
• Athletics (football, baseball, basketball, track and field,
swimming, gymnastics, water polo, soccer)
•
Publishing (journalism, yearbook)
•
Foreign languages (French, German, Spanish)
Gifted Programmes
• “Honors” classes for motivated and gifted students
• Quality of education is higher and tougher
• If funds are available, AP or IB courses available
• Most tertiary institutions consider AP or IB results
• AP and IB courses equivalent to freshman year
courses
• Therefore, postsecondary institutions allow students
to graduate early.
Tertiary Education
• College or university.
• Public schools: more lenient ; Private schools : rigorous
• ECAs considered for admission
• Community college (2 yr) AA degree
• Undergraduate study for 4 yrs : bachelor’s degree
• Postgraduate study 1-3 yrs: master’s degree.
• 3 or more yrs after the completion of a master’s
degree, students may earn a doctoral degree.
Changes / Reforms
• No Child Left Behind Act
• Increasing Education Budget
No Child Left Behind Act
President Bush
No Child Left Behind Act 2001
• Reauthorization of some federal programs
• Strive to improve performance of America's schools
• Improved teacher quality (higher standards, e.g. bac. Degree
• Scientifically based research strategies in classroom
• Increase standards of accountability for all schools
• Provide parents more flexibility in choosing schools for child
• Increased focus on reading
CASE STUDY
Case study (example) of an individual from Arcadia,
California USA
* Student is in 9th Grade *
Arcadia, California  One of the best districts in USA
School system: Split into districts that cover the city
CASE STUDY
Elementary School (Grade 1 – 5)
• Mostly 1 teacher who teaches everything
• History, Basic Math, Basic Science, English
• Physical Education (mostly ‘play time’ but later progressed
to ‘exercise time’)
• Music: Sing, learned recorder in Grade 3 (similar to us)
• Teacher would sit down with students for 20 mins after
lunch to read books to them.
CASE STUDY
Middle School
• Schedule with 6 periods
• 20 mins of free reading after lunch
• Some interesting lessons:
 Robotics (played with lego mindstorms for 1 semester)
 Exploratory: choose 2 classes, like art/music/video
production/ industrial tech (make stuff out of wood) /
journalism/etc
 English: More writing, Reading Romeo and Juliet, Do an
act from a scene, read “To Kill a Mockingbird”
 Run 1 mile for every PE lesson
CASE STUDY
School Life
• School days and holidays
• ~ 6 hr long days
• Slowly get longer as the years passed
• 5 days a week, few Mondays off, 2 weeks for
X’mas and New Year
• 1 Week spring break
• 2.5 month summer break
• Starts at 8am
• Students love holidays (esp. summer break)
Singapore Education
• Governed by Ministry of Education
• Begins at Nursery / Kindergarten
• First 6 years in primary school (compulsory), PSLE
conducted on last year.
• Heavily Subsidized School Fees
• Pass > secondary school
• 4 or 5 years in secondary school. CCAs compulsory
• O Level’s held on final year unless…
• Through-train programmes – skip O Level’s
Singapore Education
• Sec school: If pass:
Junior College (2 years) or
Polytechnic (3/4 years)
• A levels at the end of 2nd year, to university if
pass
• For polytechnics, students can join universities
on the last year.
• Very exam-oriented
• Very stressful
Similarities and Differences
Similarities
• Emphasis on Education for Economy
• Semestral Assessments of students
• Fitness and Health emphasised
• Meritocracy: IB, AP, Honours classes v.s GEP
Differences
• US has K-12 system, different
• Mandatory education: 16-18 vs. 12
• Singapore is more centralised (MOE)
• Free education in USA
• Os and As in Singapore, SAT and ACT in USA
Good Points
United States of America
• Investment in Education: Students have equal opportunities
• Decentralized system, allows automation
• Recognizes gifted students, provides for them
• More creative (slightly) than Singapore (too rigid)
Republic of Singapore
• Efficient MOE
• Constant updating of syllabus
• Competitive environment – stimulates learning
• Top international quizzes regularly
Bad Points
United States of America
• One teacher for Elementary School: No good
• Decentralization causes large variations
Republic of Singapore
• STRESSFUL life
• Too Rigid, no creativity
Learning Areas
• More decentralized system
- Schools: more autonomy
• Generate schools which cater to the needs of different students.
- Establish specialised schools, similar to “magnet schools”
- E.g. Sport schools
• Increase the number of years of mandatory education.
- To develop a larger pool of talents
- Contribute to a larger skilled workforce
- Maintain competitive economy
• Less Stressful Education
- Students work smarter, not harder
- Increase life-span, standard of living
The End
Thank you for your attention.
The End
Thank you for your attention.
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