Free public education is provided in the United States for all school-age children. Federal funds for education are collected through taxation and are dispersed to the states. The individual states add to the federal funds, and then distribute the funds to the local districts, which, in turn, add local funds and disperse the funds to the local schools. The U.S. federal government spends on average $7,743 per student for education (Rossier Online, 2011), and the total average spent per student is around $12,000, while “the average OECD nation spent $9,313 per young person.” (cbs news, 2013) However, public school teachers are only paid a national average of $36,141 starting salary, with an average overall of around $52,000. (OECD, 2013) Schools
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While attempting to insure that all students are given a quality education is a noble goal, in practice the students are taught “to the test.” This aspect is one which factored into my decision to remove my daughter from public school in the third grade and homeschool her. Her teacher announced to the class (of 8-year olds) that if they did not do well on the standardized tests the teacher would lose her job and it would be their fault. This incident is a clear indicator that changes need to be made. The teachers drilled the students only on the tests and attempted to exclude those students who were unable to perform well by suggesting the students stay home on test day. Even though my daughter was a top achiever, I attempted to use scaffolding with the poor performers and saw positive results, but was told by the teachers that those students either understood or did not – they could not be pulled aside and taught. It is my belief that students would be able to do very well on standardized testing if they are simply taught what they should know. The problem occurs when the schools place paramount interest on the tests instead of on education. This emphasis on the tests causes a narrowing of instruction, a reliance on rote memorization, and tempts “educators” to cheat. Quality teachers presenting quality lessons with enthusiasm, incorporating scaffolding techniques, and using formative assessment to determine the level of student comprehension will produce excellent results on standardized tests without so much emphasis on the tests themselves. The most advantageous aspect of the American education system is that all children are eligible to attend school. No child can be denied entrance to public school based on skin color, religion, or socio-economic status. In addition, the parents can be involved in the child’s education. Parental support for education
While attempting to insure that all students are given a quality education is a noble goal, in practice the students are taught “to the test.” This aspect is one which factored into my decision to remove my daughter from public school in the third grade and homeschool her. Her teacher announced to the class (of 8-year olds) that if they did not do well on the standardized tests the teacher would lose her job and it would be their fault. This incident is a clear indicator that changes need to be made. The teachers drilled the students only on the tests and attempted to exclude those students who were unable to perform well by suggesting the students stay home on test day. Even though my daughter was a top achiever, I attempted to use scaffolding with the poor performers and saw positive results, but was told by the teachers that those students either understood or did not – they could not be pulled aside and taught. It is my belief that students would be able to do very well on standardized testing if they are simply taught what they should know. The problem occurs when the schools place paramount interest on the tests instead of on education. This emphasis on the tests causes a narrowing of instruction, a reliance on rote memorization, and tempts “educators” to cheat. Quality teachers presenting quality lessons with enthusiasm, incorporating scaffolding techniques, and using formative assessment to determine the level of student comprehension will produce excellent results on standardized tests without so much emphasis on the tests themselves. The most advantageous aspect of the American education system is that all children are eligible to attend school. No child can be denied entrance to public school based on skin color, religion, or socio-economic status. In addition, the parents can be involved in the child’s education. Parental support for education