Lecture #9 Education in the us

History

Americans have shown a great concern for education since early colonial times. Among the first settlers there were many educated men. In Massachusetts some of these men, many of them graduated from Cambridge, came together and in 1636 founded Harvard College. Other early institutions of higher learning were the College of William and Mary, established in 1693 and Yale, founded in 1701. Before the revolution in 1776, nine colleges had been already opened in the colonies; most of them later became universities.

From 1640s Massachusetts required all towns with more than 50 families to provide a schoolmaster at public expense. In other colonies there were organized free schools. The movement for free education was very strong in 1830s. By 1850 every state had a system of free public schools open to all and paid for by public taxes.

By the same year, state-supported colleges and universities had been already established in many states. In 1862, Congress passed the law which gave states public lands in order to use them for higher education, especially for the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges. As a result new colleges were established and they joined the large number of older universities. They were important for the democratization of higher education.

By 1900, there were almost a thousand institutions of higher education in the US. Among them were law and medical schools and hundreds of small colleges. Oberlin College in Ohio was the first to admit women on an equal basis with men in 1837. There were many other institutions of higher learning which emphasized everything from the training of teachers to the pulling of teeth.

Goals of education

Americans have always aimed for equal opportunity in education regardless of social class, national origin or racial or ethnic group. A high level of education has always been seen as a necessity in the democratic society. Education in America has also traditionally served the goal of bringing people together. Schools in the US served and still serve to bring together the hundreds of various cultural and linguistic groups, religion, and social and political backgrounds, represented by millions of immigrants.

Foe the past decades public policy paid much attention to special rights for ethnic and linguistic minorities in the area of education. Thus children whose language is not English must be taught in their mother tongue. Around 80 languages are being used for instruction in American schools. Largely, education has been seen as a way of “bettering oneself”, of “rising in the world”, as a fundamental part of the American dream. Thus the millions of immigrants coming to America often tied their hopes for a better life to a good education for themselves and for their children.

Elementary and Secondary Education

Most schools start at the kindergarten level. There are almost always required subjects at each level. In some areas and at more advanced levels students can choose some subjects. Pupils who do not do well often have to repeat courses or have to have special tutoring, usually done in and by the schools. Many schools also support summer classes, where students may study failed courses or take extra courses.

Many schools have special programs for those with learning and reading difficulties. At the same time, many high school students are given special advanced courses on mathematics and the sciences. Most schools start at around 8 o’clock every morning and classes do not finish until 3 or 4 in the afternoon and students do not return home until the early evening. That is why there is a wide range of extracurricular activities. Most schools publish their own newspapers and some have their radio stations. Almost all have orchestras, band and choirs, which give public performances. There are also different language clubs, groups which meet after classes to discuss computers, chemistry and so on. Students can work as volunteers at hospitals and homes of old people.

Each of 50 states has its own laws on regulating education. From state to state, some laws are similar while others are not. For example:

- All states require young people to attend school. The age limit varies, however. Most states require attendance up to age 16, some up to 18. Thus every child in the US receives at least 11 years of education. This is regardless of a child’s sex, race religion, learning problems, ability to speak English and so on.

- Some states play a strong central role in the selection of learning material for their students. For example, state committees can decide which textbooks can be bought with state funds. In other states such decisions are left to local school officials.

Although there is no national curriculum in the US, certain subjects are taught in all elementary and secondary schools throughout the country. Almost each elementary school teaches Mathematics, language arts (including reading, grammar, writing and literature), science, social studies (including history, geography and economics) and physical education.

Higher Education

America needs highly trained specialists. In higher education the US has an extremely competitive and selective system. Each University generally sets its own admission standards, the best universities are the most difficult to get into. Some universities are very selective even at the beginning level. It is true that children who want one day to go to one of the best Universities start working on this goal in elementary school. Needless to say that those children who attended better schools, or have families with better educated parents often have an advantage over those who don’t.

In America a college is a four year institution of higher learning that offers courses in related subjects. For example, a liberal arts college offers courses in literature, languages, history, philosophy and sciences. Business College offers courses in accounting, investment and marketing. Many colleges are independent and award bachelor’s degree. But colleges can be parts of Universities. A large University usually comprises several colleges, graduate programs in various fields and one or more professional schools (for example, a law school, a medical school).

Adult and Continuing Education

The concept of continuing education is of great importance to Americans. Every year, over 20 million Americans continue their education through participation in part time instruction. Some estimate that about 45 million adult Americans are currently taking courses at universities, colleges, professional associations, government organizations or even churches and synagogues. Most participants in continuing or adult education have a practical goal: they want to update and upgrade their job skills. As a result of economic changes and the rapid development of the “information age,” the necessity to get new occupational skills has increased. Adult education thus satisfies a need of many Americans who want to improve their chances in a changing job market. This is one explanation for the continuing growth of adult education classes over the past several years. Of course, not all people who take courses in adult education do this for job-related purposes. Many simply want to broaden their knowledge or learn something they would enjoy doing such as print-making, dancing, or photography.