Education Reform in the United States

After examining the education systems in the countries discussed on this blog, we can analyze the information and create ideas for a reform in the education system in the United States. The United States is ahead of Malawi and Kenya because public secondary education is free. Since there is a cost to attend secondary education in Malawi and Kenya, there is a very low attendance rate since many people can not afford the cost. If secondary education was provided for free like it is in the United States, literacy and attendance rates could be significantly increased in Malawi and Kenya.

We can learn from Japan that the extra 40 days at the end of each school year gives students the opportunity to learn more and obtain more knowledge. In Japan there is also a very high standard students must meet for them and their family's to be accepted in society. In India, no funds are placed towards learning materials and tools. Due to to the combination of low quality teachers and lack of updated and new material, students will not be able to learn new and up to date information.

In Germany there is a lack of equal opportunity for students, but 100% graduation rate and high job prospect for students. Even though there is not an equal opportunity for all students, something about their system is working because there is a high literacy rate. Keeping a student on the educational path that is appropriate for their skill level allows students to learn at there own pace without hold students back or leaving other students behind. In Spain, they have a 5 hour school day, 5 days week; In the long run have 360 hours less of school for a year.

Taking in all this information we can conclude there are pros and cons to each education system. For the United States education reform, we can propose possible longer school days, longer school year, make students more determined and motivated to succeed and possibly separate students in classes based on their personal skills. Longer school days and a longer school year will give students the chance to learn more and get more involved in their studies. Attending class for a longer duration of time will also make students more disciplined in their education. Giving students the motivation and determination to do well in school will increase the chance of them becoming successful as well. We do not want to completely separate students, but keep students with different cognitive and literacy levels in different classes. Separating students like this will allow students who are above proficiency levels to move at a faster pace and students who are at a lower proficiency level move at a slower pace. In doing this, students will not fall behind and have difficulty understanding concepts and other students remain not learning anything or being academically challenged.


Posted by:
Mark Albers
Watson Blair
Andrew Finger
Jonathon Kirkland