Problems With Our Nation's Educational System

Superior Essays
Olivia Costello
Professor Weeks
CRTW
10 October 2014
Education
As I sit here at my desk thinking about the problems with our nation’s educational system, I reflect on my own secondary education experience and realize the struggles I had to deal with for several years. I was taught to be a lazy learner, someone who did things to just barely get by instead of someone who put in the effort to learn. My teachers never emphasized the importance of good study habits but instead lead us to the easy, quick way of learning which has bit me in the butt in college. We breed learners who depend on memorization instead of teaching them different ways to understand subjects being taught. If we were to show our youngest students how interesting learning
…show more content…
We are actually quite the opposite. According to the Huffington Post, we are ranked 17th in the world for education with Finland, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan being the top four leaders. The rankings are based off of students who decide to attend college, international test scores, and graduation rates between 2006 and 2010 (Huffington Post). In an article written by the National Education System, Finland has been the nation to watch since they completely changed their entire education structure in order to reach success. “Over the past 40 years, Finland has shifted from a highly centralized system emphasizing external testing to a more localized system in which highly trained teachers design curriculum around the very lean national standards” (NEA). Avoiding the broad testing and allowing the teachers to dictate what should be focused on during the course of the year has brought them tremendous success since they have used the creativity of the teachers who are constantly with the children. Finland has strict requirements in order to become a teacher with changing their original three-year schooling program to now four to five years, and also focusing more on problem-solving and critical thinking to practice for a research-based career. These changes have made a huge difference in the classroom because it allows the students to learn to trust their own minds and thoroughly enjoy learning like every student should. The teachers focus on every student learning with challenging curriculum, and involve students in research and review on an everyday basis (NEA). Finland’s success is a tool we all could use and work off of. They show us how education can be reformed if we are able to accept the things we are doing wrong and try and change

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    She argues that the U.S has the potential for the same educational success as Finland, but “when it comes to the lessons that Finnish schools have to offer, most discussion seems to be missing the point” (Partanen,2011). She highlights that our focus…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Classroom discussions became deeper because the students knew how to communicate what they were thinking. The skills they learn from this form of education will not just help them in high school but will help in college and the work…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Gerald Graff's Analysis

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Books, pencils, pens, paper, and homework are tools necessary to foster a child’s learning. However these tools only play a part in a child’s education. In order to truly succeed in school a child must also have the aptitude to understand the information given to them from a myriad of teachers. But, what about the students who don’t have the ability to grasp what they’re learning? Author Gerald Graff touches upon this topic; he observes that every student that has the opportunity to excel in their academics.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    216-226. Print. Perez, Sarah. " Education 2.0: Never Memorize Again?.…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I address you, the Members of Orono High School, as one of your own, at a moment unprecedented in the history of our institution. I use the word “unprecedented,” because at no previous time have Orono students been as overwhelmed as they are today. Let us say to our educators: “We Students are very confused. We are putting forth our best efforts, our best attitudes, our best selves, to give you what you want: an successful scholar. We are staying up to three in the morning to finish your papers, skipping family dinners to study for your tests, and missing out on life experiences to pass your class.…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Education Processes The school system has changed yet stayed the same in the last hundred-fifty year however still has the same promblems. America’s school system has always wanted to have student who have higher grades however when people try to teach children it is next to impossible. Students are facing discrimination, just as Dick Gregory’s article “Shame,” addressed in the 1950’s. A large amount of Americans are still set up for failure just as the essay “Learning to Read and Write,” by Fredrick Douglass, he talks about how because how he was born he was not allowed to learn literature.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Accepting that education is a mixture of different learning methods to better improve one intellect. One of these methods is standardized testing, regrettably the United States seems favor this method so much it over uses it. Most of the United States seems to agree that standardized testing is important, it is so important that is the student do well in the tests the school or teacher might get extra money and reputation. Because of this the educational purpose is lost, and the schedule for learning is structured around how well one passes a test. On the contrast “The [Finnish] curricula are very much focused on critical thinking and problem solving, project-based learning, and learning to learn” (Tung).…

    • 786 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Contrary to popular belief, the number one educated country, Finland has a summer break also. Finland’s schools are taught differently but still have the break, Finland’s students don't start school until age 7, it is rare for a Finn to get homework until they are well into their teens, Finland's students have only one mandatory standardized test taken when the student is 16, and all children are taught in the same classroom. With all of these things Finland has the highest percent of students attending college at an astounding 66 percent. Someone may say that we are falling behind in the school department however they are dead wrong.…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. And this means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure, as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation.…

    • 2061 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Prior to high school, my middle school recommended that I attend “Grant High School”, which was looked down upon by my parents due to its reputation. Grant High School only has a 78% graduation rate. My father had been planning on surprising me with an opportunity of a lifetime and began planning since I was in 7th grade. I left my friends and current life behind to move to a place called Oak Park to attend Oak Park High School, which is ranked in the top 100 public schools in the nation and a graduation rate of 99%. I truly believe this is the reason I am here at San Diego State University today, because I was given an opportunity I may not have received by attending Grant High School.…

    • 1617 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For the past three decades America’s public education system has aspired to provide rich and poor, Black and White, immigrant and native born, an equal opportunity for success. That it fails in this goal is evident in the persistent differences in academic performances between groups of students. Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in academic achievement remain a stubborn fact of schooling in America. National studies shows us that the average non-Hispanic black student scores well below the average non-Hispanic white students on standardized tests of math and reading skills, as does the average Hispanic student. Likewise, the average student from a low income family scores much lower on such tests than students from higher income…

    • 181 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Toward the end of high school students are expected to have made plans about what they're going to do when they graduate. With my personal experience I was not adequately prepared for life after high school. I actually had to have my sister help me fill out all college documents. Throughout reading “ Academically Adrift ”, my thoughts were that i mostly agree with the article. There is a basic need for students along with professors to better worldwide education in colleges.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Elements of Education Is everyone enrolled in an elementary or secondary school getting a quality education? How much of what students are learning even stays with them into adulthood? In fact, the things that do stay with us and help us in our everyday lives, no matter what we choose as our career path, are seldom taught in most schools. Classes can become monotonous bore where only those with great memories and rigorous study habits succeed.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    There is little doubt that Durkheim would find major weaknesses in the U.S. educational system in the early 21st century. He would notice that racial and economic inequality within the system creates external inequality and is thus harmful to society. While Durkheim would support special attention and support for the most intellectually gifted students, he would also want to ensure that all students receive the training they need to contribute to…

    • 72 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dr. Lisa Kim (University of York, UK): “What makes a good teacher? Uncovering and assessing non-cognitive characteristics of effective teachers” In my opinion teachers are the most important persons in every student’s life. They are here not only for giving a student necessary theory, but they hold the post of psychologist, parent and counsellor. Furthemore, pupils at primary school can see his teacher as a heroe or an idol.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics