[Harold III]

If you are a student, an former student, a trouble student, a excellent student, a teacher, or a parent, are you satisfied with the education system in United States, and why?

[Emily]

I'm pretty dissatisfied with the system. The best way to get through it is to figure out the way to get an A with the least possible amount of work. For example, in my biology class we always get a study guide before a test. I remember all the concepts from the lecture but I've usually forgotten the vocab. So basically the night before a test I re-read the study guide a few times and memorize it pretty much word for word. As a result, I get an A on the test but if you ask me a definition from a couple months ago I would be clueless.

[mikesgroovin]

I agree and with many reasons to back it up. Emily's was something that I had experienced in HS but, I didn't think about just now. But it is true.
I often lower and shake my head at the salaries that teachers and professors are making and the materials (or lack thereof) that they are given to get the job done. Quality education in America does not exist.

[Emily]

Another thing is that education in America is ridiculously inconsistent. Even amongst public schools in the same neighborhood (at least in my city) there are HUGE differences in materials and quality of education. It's hard to say anything good about American education because what's good in one school is probably absent in thousands of others.

[Dave]

IMO, quality education does exist in America, it's just not in the public school system. There are quality teachers in the public school system, but the system itself is not quality. There are lots of private schools that have excellent educational standards and systems.

The public school system has vastly changed in the last 20+ years and I can't say that I'm satisfied. That's why my sons went to a private school. That school, in existence for over 21 years, has a track record of approximately 90% of the students graduating in the top 10% of the country in ACT scores.

Even though I'm extremely satisfied with the scholastic abilities of the school, it didn't have a great sports program. When weighing the two, I'm glad it has the scholastic achievements.

Dave

[The Merlin]

My parents weren't so that is why I was home schooled

[RyanOldw83]

Your education is what you make it. I went to public schools all my life, then I went to college and graduated. I was never a problem child and I did what I was supposed to do and passed with flying colors. There are flaws with every educational system, I agree; but you can't discourage the way things are done. If you don't like the system, overcome its problems and help find a way to change it for the better.

[Harold III]

Actually I did not receive my basic education in United States, but in China. I ended up making the highest grade in all of my science and math classes except biology cuz I took it when I first got here and had trouble with English. we can clearly see that US basic education in particularly science and math cannot catch up with that in other nations. It is extremely dangerous because after years most front-line technicians, scientists and mathematicians will be immigrants or offsprings of immigrant parents.

I feel it is so easy to get an A here in US and it's getting easier and easier. I never study for my calculus at home - just listen to teacher presenting the new concept, memorize it, do a few class practice problems, and make 100 in the exams, because the exams only contains problems from the book. But in China, in contrast, teachers turn their brains out to make up weird questions and make their best effort to lower students' exam scores. Chinese parents urge their kids to study all the time and buy them workbooks with weird questions. Chinese students faced harsh reality that if they can't make good in the national exam for college admission, they won't have chance to go to college and won't get a job later. In contrast, US students don't have such pressure and, if they don't go to collge, they still can feed a family.

As far as the differeces among US public high schools, it is obvious because public school are funded by communities (like county) rather than the whole state. communities in the deep city usually have little fund and their students are mostly African Americans. Rich communities won't love the idea that they have to share their fortune with those that are poor. therefore riches remain rich and poors remain poor. This is caused by the sectionism and individualism embedded in the American value.

Another problem is that most Americans believe that a smart student is born smart. But in China, most people believe that you can make a kid smart by giving him education. Not just intelligence, other attributes such as public speaking ability can also be acquired after birth. As a result, while people in other nations are studying hard to become smarter, US students are satisfied with their current status because "God has determined my destination."

Many public high schools also don't have the autonomy to bring about their personal methods of education. In my high school, teachers of the same courses teach almost the same way. if a teacher (or even a studnet) has some innovative way of teaching, he/she has to report to the county office. The bureaucratic members of the board of education usually take the way for their own benefits. Since in the 21st century public education will still play an important role, I think charter schools will be a premium option to eliminate bureaucracy.