It has been 235 years since our nation was founded by a bunch of rebels seeking freedom from a monarch who exploited the mercantilist system to bleed them dry. And as those rebels who huddled together for warmth in the bitter cold of Valley forge we are by no means the most learned members of the global society.
Our "thriving metropolises" that were once beakons of hope to the world are now perfect examples of the same poverty and ignorance that runs rampant in countries of the third world. The city of New York, home to over eight million people and once the economic flagship of this country has only a 60% graduation rate from public school. Detroit Michigan the motor city of the nation and home of 900,000 people has a graduation rate of 67% with a highschool dropout rate of 75%. What happened? The United States used to be the most powerful and well educated nation in the world and the leader of the west and now lies decaying.
The average ninth grade class was thirteen percent larger than the the previous year's eigth grade class on average in the year 2000 as opposed to nearly identical classes in eigth and ninth grade in the year 1950. This indicates that a higher number of freshmen are being held back in ninth grade as opposed to advancing through highschool. With increasing national population and bloated federal spending in the midst of an already crushing debt how do we plan to educate for our future?
This is depressing, but I agree that it should not be ignored. However, I also believe (based on my parents recountings) that the quality of school has improved for many.
ReplyDeleteSofie B
Although I do agree that the US education system isn't the greatest, your statistics feel confined. By just pointing out 2 cities that may not have the best education system in place doesn't necessarily mean that America as a whole is going down the drain. I get the impression that you are making a very broad and strong statement just based on a few, confined, possibly isolated facts. But, America really does need to step up its education if it wants to compete on a global scale with other nations.
ReplyDelete- Daniel C
I believe American education is getting better, even if based only on Mr Browne's horror stories of What It Used To Take To Teach. At the same time, other countries around the world are rushing past us and we aren't doing enough to keep up. America as a whole ought to put more emphasis on primary and secondary education, from grassroots to politicians. Maybe if teachers could be held with higher regard, and if teachers (on average, outside schools like LASA) could earn that kind of respect from their students... then we might be onto something.
ReplyDeleteStill, nothing will change until people care--and clearly, not enough do right now.
--IBI