Title: Education in America
1Lecture 11
2The Academic Levels
- Education is like a big window opening. Americans
are proud of the fact that the window of
knowledge is never slammed shut for any of the
nations citizens. - All American children are offered 12 years of
free public education most good students can
get financial help to continue their studies for
many more years. - Adults who wish to attend school also find many
opportunities.
3Importance of Education in America
- In this nation of rapid change, there can be no
age limit on learning. - Everyone must study ---in classrooms or
independently---to keep in touch with the
changing life around him.
4About the American Educational System
- In the United States, education is the
responsibility of individual states, not of the
federal government, so requirements may vary from
one state to another. The following is a
generalization
5- Kindergarten Grade 0 5 years old
- Elementary school Grade 1-6 6-11 years old
- Junior high or middle school Grade 7-8
12-13 years old - (Senior) high school Grade 9-12
14-17 years old - College (4 years for a B.A or B.S. degree)
- University (2-3 years for M.A. or M.S 2-8
years for a Ph.D)
6Structure of American Education
Early childhood education
Grammar school or elementary school (primary)
High school (secondary)
College and university (higher/tertiary education)
7Early Childhood Education(1)
- In most areas, free public school
education begins with
kindergarten classes for 4-year-olds. - These are only half-day sessions the child
becomes accustomed to being separated from Mommy,
playing sharing with other children following
the directions of a teacher.
8Early ChildhoodEducation(2)
- Early childhood education is considered so
beneficial that some public school systems also
offer pre-kindergarten programs for
4-year-olds.(some tuition is usually charged.) - Nearly 3 million American children attend
kindergarten each year. For many, kindergarten is
their first school experience. - Some are introduced to the classroom situation at
a much younger age, either through nursery
schools or day care centers.
9What do children learn?
- They are introduced to skills
information that will help them later with
academic work. E.g. They learn the colors
alphabet, how to write their names, to count to
ten, to enjoy books.
10Nursery Schools(1)
- Nursery schools accept children from 3 to 5 years
old for half-day sessions ranging from twice a
week to 5 days a week. - The typical nursery school classroom is equipped
much like a kindergarten, with dolls, toy
furniture, building blocks, books, puzzles, art
supplies.
11Nursery Schools(2)
- Most nursery schools have an outdoor playground.
A youngster who has no playmates his age living
nearby may benefit greatly from attending nursery
school. - Nursery schools usually charge tuition, though
some are subsidized some offer scholarships.
12Day Care Centers(1)
- Day care centers provide care for pre-school
children of working mothers who need a place to
leave their children all day, 5 days a week. Some
day care centers accept pre-schoolers from
infancy on. - The children have lunch snacks at the center
spend the entire day there.
13Day Care Centers(2)
- The womens Liberation movement which became
extremely prominent in the 1960s has widely
publicized the idea that free, high-quality day
care is essential if women are to participate
fully in society. - At the present time, the need for day care
centers is acute. For the 6 million pre-school
children whose mothers are working, there are
only 625,000 openings in certified day care
centers.
14Day Care Centers(3)
- Existing day care centers are operated funded
by many different organizations. Some are
profit-making facilities supported by tuition
fees. Others are non-profit centers run by
philanthropic, religious, governmental, or
industrial sponsors. - Although the federal government is already
spending more that a billion dollars a year on
day care, there will certainly be continued
pressure for increased public support.
15Grammar School High School
- In the United States, classes of students are
divided into 12 academic levels called grades. - Generally, one academic year(from September to
June) is required to complete each grade. - Academic work---learning to read, write do
arithmetic---begins when the child enters first
grade, at about age 6.
162 school systems
- The first academic institution that a child
attends is called grammar school or elementary
school. - In some school systems, elementary school
includes grades 1 through 8. The next 4 years are
called high school. - In other school systems, there are 3 divisions
elementary school(grades 1 through 6), junior
high school(grades 7 through 9), senior high
school(grades 10 through 12).
17More Information
- The typical elementary school day starts at 9 am
ends at about 330 pm. - Junior high high school students usually attend
classes from 830 am until 330 pm. - For all levels, schools are in session 5 days a
week, Monday through Friday. - Traditional vacation periods of 1 to 2 weeks are
scheduled at Christmas in the spring, the
schools also close for certain holidays.
18What do Grammar Schools Teach?
- Grammar schools teach reading, arithmetic,
language arts such as creative writing, spelling
handwriting. - Social studies, science, music, art P.E
(athletics) are also part of the program.
19What do High Schools Teach?(1)
- In high school, subject matter becomes more
specialized. - English classes stress grammar literature.
- Social studies is split into separate courses in
American history, American government, European
history. - Algebra, geometry, trigonometry are offered.
20What do High Schools Teach?(2)
- High school students usually take a one-year
general science course, then more detailed
courses in biology, chemistry, physics. - Most high school students study a foreign
language---usually Latin, French, Spanish, or
German. - Courses in music, art P.E are often required.
- Some high schools specialize in vocational
education train students for various technical
careers.
21Colleges Universities
- When a student
graduates from
high school, he
may attend college if his high school record
test scores are good enough to gain him
admittance.
22Subjects offered
- College university offer a vast array of
subjects. A student usually majors in one field
during the last 2 years of college. - If he wishes, he may obtain professional training
at the undergraduate level, for example, in
accounting, teaching, journalism, or dramatics. - Certain state colleges specialize in training
agricultural experts engineers.
23Grades Degrees
- College grades, from highest to lowest, run
ABCDF. An F is a failing grade. - American universities offer 3 main categories of
graduate degrees.
Bachelors degree Masters degree A Ph. D degree
24College Life(Campus Life/Life on Campus)
Interesting lively
Rich colorful
Meaningful attractive
25Different activities(1)
- College students become involved in many
different activities---extracurricular,
religious, social, athletic. - Among the extra-curricular activities are college
newspapers, musical organizations, dramatic
clubs, political groups. Some of these have
faculty advisers.
26Different activities(2)
- Many religious groups have their own meeting
places where services social activities can be
held. - Student groups run parties of all types---from
formal dances to picnics. - Most colleges have a student union where students
can get together for lunch, study sessions, club
meetings socializing.
27Athletics(1)
- Athletics is an important phase of life on
campus. In addition to required physical
education courses, voluntary programs are
provided for health,
recreation
the
development
of teams for
intercollegiate competition.
28- Most coeducational mens schools
belong to an athletic league. The
teams within the league play against
each other, aiming for the league
championship.
29Athletics(2)
- Football is the college sport which stirs up the
most national interest. At large schools,
promoting football, developing a team, playing
before huge crowds have become a big business.
Season tickets are sold for substantial prices.
30- Other sports---particularly
basketball, swimming,
track---are also pursued with enthusiasm.
Some schools have competitive
tennis, skiing, sailing, wrestling,
soccer baseball.
31Cost of a higher education(1)
- The cost of a college education has doubled
within the last 15 years tripled within the
last 30. - A typical college now charges about 3,000 a year
for room, board, tuition. - A student attending a private Eastern college
spends at least 3,500 probably closer to
5,000 a year, including tuition, housing, food,
books, personal expenses.
32Cost of a higher education(2)
- At the other end of the scale, a student
attending a state college in a rural area may get
by on 1,500 a year. - State colleges universities have rather low
tuition fees (ranging from about 60 to about
450) for state residents. - In some communities, low-cost public education is
available at city colleges or junior colleges.
33Sources of Financial Help
- Fortunately for students with limited funds,
financial help is available from many sources. - Every year college students receive more than
300 million in monetary assistance, including
scholarships, loans part-time jobs. - More than 200,000 scholarships are offered by
industries, alumni groups, individual donors, the
federal government, colleges universities.
34How students finance their education
- A student may cut costs by living at home,
attending a state or community school, or
combining part-time work with a part-time college
program. - Many students use their summer earnings to help
finance their education. - Some pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in
night school while working full time during the
day. - Some college courses are offered on TV, are
inexpensive.
35The American Dream
- In the United States there is a belief. It goes
that people are rewarded for working, producing,
achieving. Many people believe that there is
equality of opportunity. It allows anyone to
become successful. - This belief is illustrated by stories written by
a 19th-century American novelist, Horatio Alger.
He wrote about the American Dream. In his
stories he described poor people. They became
rich because of their hard work, honesty luck.
36- The stories reinforced the idea. The idea is that
all individuals, no matter how poor, were capable
of becoming wealthy as long as they were honest
hard-working. - For many Americans, however, Horatio Algers
rags-to-riches stories do not represent the
reality of opportunity. Many poor immigrants were
able to become rich. They came to the U.S. in the
19th 20th centuries. Today, however, the poor
generally do not rise to the middle upper
classes. That is why the American Dream is now
described as a myth.
37- Many young people from poor families struggle
along on limited budgets in order to stay in
school because they know that a college degree
brings higher income, greater job security, more
prestige, a more significant career. - Every son must rise above his father is a major
aspect of the American Dream--- one that is most
often realized through higher education.
38American values in education
- American school system has developed as it has
because the American people value education
highly. Some of the traditional values which have
developed over the years are
396 Traditional Values
- 1.Public education should be free.
- 2. Schooling should be equal and open to all.
- 3. The public schools should be free of any creed
or religion. - 4. Public schools are controlled by the state and
the local governments within which they are
located. - 5. Attendance at school is compulsory.
- 6. Schooling should be enriched and not just
confined to the fundamentals.
401.Public education should be free.
- There should be no hidden charges to prevent any
citizen from receiving a good education at public
expenses.
412. Schooling should be equal and open to all.
- No one should be discriminated against because of
race, religion, or financial status.
423. The public schools should be free of any creed
or religion.
- The schools of the United States are open to all
Americans regardless of their religious beliefs.
The Supreme Court has held that no special prayer
or Bible reading should be required. However,
religious schools (sometimes called parochial
schools) are permitted outside of the public
school system.
434. Public schools are controlled by the state and
the local governments within which they are
located.
- Local school boards run the public schools under
laws passed by the state legislature. The State
Board of Education assists the local schools, but
does not give orders to the district board. The
United States Office of Education also assists
with advice and information, but the actual
control is located in the local school district,
where the people know the local situation.
445. Attendance at school is compulsory.
- Parents cannot decide to keep their children out
of school. Each state compels the attendance of
young people, usually between the ages of 7 and
16.
456. Schooling should be enriched and not just
confined to the fundamentals.
- Most Americans believe that schools should be
places where young people can grow in body, mind,
and spirit. Athletics, clubs, social events, and
creative arts are a part of each persons
education. Schools should be lively places where
individuals are encouraged to develop to their
greatest potential.
46Discussion questions
- 1. Using the six traditional values of American
education described above, summarize the
educational philosophy of our country. Where do
you find similarities? What are the differences?
472.Who should make decisions about the schools?
- Parents?
- Professional educators?
- Elected officials?
- Religious leaders?
- Specially appointed experts?
- The children themselves?
48Read the statements below and discuss the pros
and cons of each.
- A. Parents They are our kids. We know what is
best for them. We should decide what they learn
and how they are taught. - B. Teachers What do parents know? We have been
to college. We are the ones with the special
training. We should make the decisions.
49- C. Government officials We have the best view
of the issues. We know the budget and we
understand the laws and how the apply. Only we
can make the best decisions. - D. Religious authorities Schools that teach
facts but no values weaken the moral strength of
the country. We can provide the wisdom and
insight on which all teaching should be based.
50- E. University experts We have studied the
problems and done the research. We should be
consulted before any decisions are made. - F. Children It is our lives and education that
are at stake. No decisions should be made without
our advice and agreement.
With whom do you agree?
51???? CET-4 Writing
- College Life (Life on Campus)
- How I Finance My College Education?
- Discussion What are the different ways of
financing our college education? which is a
better way?
52????????
- 2000?1?How I Finance My College Education
- 1.??????(tuition and fees)??????????
- 2.???????(????)