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The American Education System

21 December 2011
Ariana Tobin: Fulbright English Fellow
Danielle Montagne: English Language Fellow
+ Objective:

During today’s lecture, we will discuss:

 The American Public School System (K-12)
 [A Brief] History of Education in America

 The goals/learning objectives of Public Schools in America

 Traditional Structure/Variations in Public School Structures

 American Public Elementary, Middle and High School

 Teacher/Student Case Studies

 Alternative Education Options (K-12)

 Contemporary Social Issues in k-12 Education

 Follow up Discussion Questions & Student Questions

+
Warm Up Questions…
The American Public School System
 What do you know about the American Education system?

 Are there any stereotypes about American education or American

students that you know of?

 How/where have you learned information about the American School

system?

 How do you think American school system differs from the

Belorussian School system?

 How do you think the American School system is similar to the

Belorussia School system?
+
The American Public School
System (K-12)
History of the American Public School System
 The first American schools in the thirteen original colonies opened in
the 17th century.
 Established for wealthy families who could afford to send their
children to school.

 One room school houses would often serve primary, middle and high
school age students.

 For most families, literacy and mathematics education was done in the
homes—often by mothers –during America’s early history.

 Education for women, African Americans and non-English speaking

immigrants was limited or outlawed until the 20th century.
+ History of the American Public School System
 After the American Revolution, an emphasis was put on
education:
 Especially true in the northern states, which rapidly
established public schools.

 By the year 1870, all states had free public elementary schools.

 Private academies flourished in the towns across the country, but

rural areas (where most people lived) had few schools before the
1880s.

 By 1900, the US population had one of the highest literacy in the

world.

 Education seen as necessary for developing intelligent American

citizens capable in participating in all social and political realms of
life.
+
Early American Schools…
+Modern goals of the American Public School System
 Education is often seen as a means to deliver equality to all
American citizens.

 K-12 Education is compulsory for all American children.

 Education is mainly provided by the public sector and funded by

the federal, state and local governments.

 School curricula, funding, teaching, employment, and other policies

are set through locally elected school boards who have control over
a specified school district.

 The modern goals of the American education system is to develop:

 A well-rounded individual prepared with

 critical thinking skills

 problem solving skills

 creativity when approaching real life situations.

+Traditional Structure of the American School
System (K-12)
 The American School system traditionally consists of:
 Pre-school (age 3-5) –not compulsory

 Primary School/Elementary School

 Kindergarten (age 5-6)

 Grades 1-6 (ages 6-12)

 Middle School

 Grades 7-8 (ages 12-14)

 High School

 Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)

+

K-12
Structures
+American Primary/Elementary Schools
 Public Elementary School teachers instruct between 20-30 students
of diverse learning needs.

 A typical classroom will include children with a range of learning needs

or abilities, from those identified as having special needs (special education) to
students non-native English speakers (ESL students).

 Each local school district gives each teacher a book to give to the students for
each subject, and brief overviews of what the teacher are expected to teach.

 Learning standards are identified for all areas of a curriculum by individual

States, including those for mathematics, social studies, science, physical
development, the fine arts, and reading.

 Elementary School teachers are trained with emphases on human cognitive and
psychological development and the principles of curriculum development and
instruction.

 Teachers typically earn either a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Early Childhood

and Elementary Education.
 Certification standards for teachers are determined by individual states.
+
Images of an American
Elementary School…
+
+ Case Study: Typical Day of American Primary
School Teacher
 A typical teacher works 8 hours, 5 days a week, at the same
school. [September-June]
 Federal Holidays and Summer Vacations off from work.

 Primary school teachers traditionally teach the same group of students

(20-30 students) for the full day.

 Courses include: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies.

 Teachers often have one (40-45 minute) break or “preparation period”

during the day.
 Students receive classes from a different teacher—Music, Art, Gym
(sports), Drama, Chorus, etc.

 Teachers must have one lunch break (40-45 minute) during the day.

 Many teachers stay after school to participate in extracurricular

activities for students or provide additional teaching time.
+Case Study: Typical Day of American Primary
School Student
 School begins in early September through the end of June.

 Most students arrive to school by a big yellow school bus.

 Students generally attend all classes in the same classroom with the same
group of [diverse] students.

 Students are taught strategies of working independently, in groups and in

partners during the school day.

 Students usually have “recess” during the school day and often spend time
on a playground with their friends.

 Being sent to the “principals office” is seen as a major punishment.

 Elementary school students are sent home with 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours of

homework each night (depending on grade level).

 Extracurricular activities are popular for older elementary school

+American Secondary Schools: Middle School
 Middle School include the grade levels intermediate between
elementary school and senior high school.

 "Middle school" usually includes seventh and eighth grades

 "Junior high" typically includes seventh through ninth grade.

 At this time, students are given more independence:

 Having different teachers for each subjects.

 Taking on more independent homework assignments and

projects.
 Moving to different classrooms for different subjects

 being allowed to choose some of their class subjects

(electives).
+
Images of an American Middle
School…
+
+American Secondary Schools: Senior High School
 Senior High School is a school attended after middle school/
junior high school.

 The term “High school” is often used instead of senior high school

 High school usually runs either from 9th through 12th grade.

 The students in these grades are commonly referred to as:

 freshmen (grade 9)

 sophomores (grade 10)

 juniors (grade 11)

 seniors (grade 12).

 students take a broad variety of classes without special emphasis

in any particular subject
+
Images of an American High
School
+
+High School Curriculum
 Students take a broad variety of classes without special
emphasis in any particular subject.

 Curricula vary widely in quality and rigidity

 Some states consider 65 (on a 100-point scale) a passing grade,
while others consider it to be as low as 60 or as high as 75.

 Mandatory subjects are required in nearly all U.S. high schools:

 Science (3 years of biology, chemistry and physics)

 Mathematics (4 years of algebra, geometry, pre-calculus,

statistics, and calculus)
 English (4 years of literature, humanities, composition, etc.)

 Social sciences (3 years world and U.S. history, gov./economics)

 Physical education (4 years)

 Many states require a "health" course (anatomy, first aid,

sexuality, birth control)
+ Students Choice: Elective Classes
 Computers:
 Word processing, programming, graphic design…

 Career and Technical Training:

 Business Marketing, health occupations, technology education,
publishing, journalism, public speaking, creative writing,
poetry…

 Performing Arts/Visual Arts:

 Choir, band, orchestra, drama, art, ceramics, photography,
dance…

 Foreign Languages:
 Spanish/French most common…

 Advanced Placement Courses (AP): College Credit Courses

 Sciences, History, Economics, Art, Etc…
+Extracurricular Activities in American Schools
 A major characteristic of American schools is the high priority
given to sports, clubs and activities by the community, the
parents, the schools and the students themselves.

 Extracurricular activities are educational activities not falling within

the scope of the regular curriculum but under the supervision of the
school.

 These activities can extend to large amounts of time outside the

normal school day and include:
 Sports Programs—Football, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming,
Wrestling, Cheerleading, Rowing, Dance, etc.
 Performing Arts—orchestra bands, jazz bands, marching bands,
choirs, school plays/drama clubs/musicals
 Debate teams, Student Government, Public Awareness
Organizations, Various Clubs (Poetry Club, Photography Club,
etc.)
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+ Social Life and School Related Activities
 A major characteristic of American schools is the rich social
events that are planned and organized by the high schools.

 Formal Dances
 Yearly Semiformal Dances

 Junior Prom

 Senior Prom/Senior Ball

 Homecoming Day and Parade

 Organized Parade

 Homecoming King and Queen elected by students

 Celebration at the school

 Sports Activities and related social events

 Football games

 Bonfires and Rallys

 Graduation Celebrations
+
+Case Study: Typical Day of American High School
Teacher
 A typical teacher works 8 hours, 5 days a week, at the same
school. [September-June]
 Federal Holidays and Summer Vacations off from work.

 High school teachers teach the same subject to:

 6 groups of students (45-50 minute classes) each day OR

 3 groups of students (90 minutes) every other day

 Teaching specialty depends on teaching degree

 Teachers often have one “preparation period” (45 minutes) during the
day.

 Teachers must have one lunch break (40-45 minute) during the day.

 Many teachers stay after school to participate in extracurricular

activities for students or provide additional teaching time.
Case Study: Typical Day of American High School
+ Student
 School begins in early September through the end of June

 Some student arrive to school by school bus; many others drive.

 Students attend 4-8 classes each school day.

 Students must remain at school for the entire day—leaving for

lunch is not allowed.

 Students are taught strategies of working independently, in groups

and in partners during the school day.

 Students usually have “study hall” during the school day and to
prepare for classes, study for exams or meet with teachers.

 High school students are sent home with 2 to 3 hours of homework

each night (depending on grade/skill level).

 Many students stay after school to participate in sports, clubs and

other extracurricular activities.
+
Alternative forms of Education
 Home schooling
 In 2007, approximately 1.5 million children were home ]
schooled: 2.9% of all children.
 Often associated with religious groups.

 Private Schools/Private Academies

 Funded solely by student tuition.

 Offer more specialized courses.

 Parochial School
 Run by church organizations.

 Funded by student tuition and petitioner contributions.

 Charter School
 Funded by both private funds and public funds.

 Stricter control over enrollment—controversial.

+ Modern Social Issues in American
Education
Educational issues in the United States center on curriculum,
funding, and control.

 Funding
 U.S. is tied for first place with Switzerland for annual spending per
student: two countries spending more than $11,000 USD
 U.S. public schools lag behind the schools of other developed
countries in the areas of reading, math, and science.
 No Child Left Behind Act– George W. Bush : Gives government
the right to withhold funding if it believes a school, district, or even
a state is improving standardized test scores.

 Tracking
 Dividing students into learning groups based on classifications of
“above average”, “average” or “below average”
 Separating ESL students and Special Education students from
mainstream classrooms.
+
Modern Social Issues in American
Education
 English in the Classroom
 Questions on how to best accommodate for non-English
speaking students and parent interest in foreign language
instruction.
 ESL programs vs. Bilingual programs

 Dual Language Programs

 Nationwide Education Content and Education Quality

 Different content, grade systems and quality across the nation

 Textbook Review and Adoption

 Evolution in Kansas

 Violence and Drug Use

 Preventing violence and drug abuse in schools

 Education regarding violence, sex and drug abuse

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Questions or Comments?
 Please ask me any questions about today’s lecture topic, my
personal background or any other question you might have.

Contact Information
 Danielle Marie Montagne
 Email: d.m.montagne@gmail.com
 Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions, assistance
or guidance you need in any class.