Historical Perspective of American Education - Term Paper Example

Historical Perspective of American Education In ancient times, American education was considered as private or religious education. With the passage of time, it posited the current system of mass schooling and public education system with respect to policy approach of educational system. Public schooling can be referred to as an upshot of incursion of people from diverse geographical locations to be merged in United States. It was the first snapshot of modern American educational system. The historical perspective of American education system belongs to Permissive Era (1642-1821). In the said era, the government enacted first educational law by Massachusetts General Court requiring the parents that their children must able to understand the religion and laws by reading and writing. Following the premier rule, many other consequent policies were endorsed by general court with cooperation and support of federal government. After the permissive era, the next era has been nominated as Encouraging Era (1826-1851). During this era, the educational sector in United States was enough furnished and flourished through educational friendly policies and law enforcement. The education was at its growing phases during these years. It is because people in the government had begun realizing that education is the key that may lead the nation above skies. However people were not forced to must send their children to public schools but the provision of understanding the laws and religion was still persisted. Education was made compulsory in all states of United States in 1855. From 1855 to 1980, parents were compelled by the government to send their children to schools. In case of violation of the order, they were charged penalties. In encouraging era, people were motivated by making them aware with the prime significance of education in the development of any nation. During that era, the volunteers and persuaded people blissfully sent their charges to educational institutions while some of those were still overlooking. To compensate the ignorance committed by citizens, government made it compulsory for every child (Kauchak and Eggen, 08, 12, 21). After 1980 to date, the educational era is committed as freedom and choice of school era. People were enough matured and full blown that they were not needed to force any more. The policy approach by historical timeline in perspective of United States of America suggests that government adopted the most suitable strategy for its nation in order to enforce a powerful and well established educational system. It remained pretty successful such that literacy rate in United States is reported as 99% (males as well as females) (U.S. Dept. of Education). Philosophical Perspectives of American Education In generalized philosophy, it is comprised of four broader categories which are further applied to other applications. Such as here we are required to apply philosophical concepts over US educational system. The four branches are Epistemology, Metaphysics, Axiology and logic. Every one of these is relative to describe the real phenomenon behind the scene. The purposes of education overlap in different scenarios. Such as if we critically examine the historical perspective of purpose of education, it can be clearly elucidated that educational basis has a strong philosophy behind it. In the same connotation, being most precise, the logic behind education is development and awareness. The twofold rationale behind introducing the education explains the purposes with respect to society and purpose with respect to culture. The goals of a person’s life may be better achieved with the help of education. It polishes the human mind by putting immunity for critical thinking and decision making in it (King). Not only it gives bookish knowledge only but also it offers a strong sense of socialization, judgment and finding of reality. It has a defined way for every individual through a particular age in order to get an equivalent chance for development and augmentation. However personal goals for gaining education vary with person to person. The basic motives for gaining education in United States are four i.e., money, job or career establishment, impressing an opposite gender and knowledge or exploration. If we critically analyze these four basic motives, we can easily assume that these create a hierarchy of needs. For example money protects a person’s physical and safety needs, job offers social need such as status consciousness, impressing motive derives towards family, affection and love requirements while the knowledge and exploration takes a personality in search of self esteem. Striving for education followed by a motive is a frequent practice or observation. While at the same time this concept only represents needs of a person instead of desires (Kauchak and Eggen, 121, 123). Contemporary Educational Debates Class Room Grading System: In United States, the students always rate their class room instructors. It is a tradition so far and criticized as well. It has been specified the way of assessing professors from students’ judgment is not an appropriate approach that could make sense. While this approach has been used since long. The debate puts a question whether this technique is enough substantial to rate a teacher or there could be another way found which could result a teacher (New York Times). Online Courses versus Degrees: Various technological institutions including Harvard Massachusetts and have introduced online courses. These courses are not degree rewarding. The contemporary critiques are in opinion that if these renowned institutes can offer online courses, then they should also offer credit to course takers. Otherwise there is no significance of such courses. This is about distant learning issue because in distance education, the offering institution rewards a credit or degree as well. The question put forward for discussion is that why this discrimination is brought in (New York Times). Potential Policy Solutions for Contemporary Debates 1. Class Room Instructor Rating: The rating of teacher by students is a dire indicator. There are several flaws found in this process. The utmost factor which is commonly observed is personal biasness. It pollutes the transparency of the survey. Ensuing policies must be enacted which should be comprised of valuable methodology to rate a teacher. In lieu of relying on students’ opinion solely, an instruction rating test may be conducted to check the level of proficiency of what the teachers have taught. This might also come in the way of external examination system. However student empowerment is also an important tool to motivate an instructor but solely relying on student opinion is not a persuasive and credible scheme to rate an instructor. 2. Online Courses versus Degrees: A six digit number of candidates were enrolled in such course programs during last year. The question of non credit courses is very emerging topic among particular educational contemporaries. Either the people, who are enrolled, should be entitled with related course degree or the program should be discontinued. It has been reported as a cause of dissatisfaction among the people who undertook such courses during last term. A policy suggestion posits that certain testing body should be established in order to test the skills of candidates who took free online courses. The final test will assess the level of expertise and ability of the students in order to award a degree grade to them. However this test may left optional on the will of course takers whether if they need the degree certificate or not under terms and conditions, indeed. This test may be paid in order to set a level of credibility and during course learning motivation among the student. The policy approach is an example of classical philosophy in American educational system. This approach is underpinned by federal government as well as higher courts. The best approach to resolve educational controversies are the relative best practicable policies, indeed (New York Times). Impending Areas If United Sates fails to educate its people, then it will be a threatening indicator for nation as well as government. Government’s inability to cover and implement the educational policies will cause two dimensional impacts over the nation as well as the economic status of the country. The risk of economic opulence, lavishness of international status and social order will go at risk. These risks are enough to intimidate the policy makers to take an action. According to the statistical evidences, it has been reported that America invests in K 12 educational system more than other global players. But the output of this education system does not have enough potential to come in to an open competition with their international peers. Another indicator reveals that twenty five per cent of the students fail to pass from high school. For diverse cultures like African and Hispanic American students, the ratio of failure is observed around 40%. Teaching of foreign languages in schools is following a downward trend. America is consisted of diverse cultures and many more immigrants than any other country. 80 per cent of nationals are then speaking only English language as a means of communication. Only 22 percent of the high school students are meeting the standards of admission in college, reported by a nonprofit testing organization. Out of total number of students who are enrolled in colleges, only 43 per cent are up to the standards that could get admissions over there. This clearly shows that students are not well prepared in high schools to go for college. Resultantly the products come out of college are below standards which are expected from a college graduate. The problem is expected to persist until the students are not well prepared to go for college education. Recommendations Federal government should introduce a skill monitoring cell which should be responsible to check and monitor the high school graduation standards. Certain standards must be maintained which should make compulsory to meet. The educational system should include such reforms which are helpful in economic and risk management of the country. The best practice is to weed out the problem from root level instead of finding it in university education. If it is to be found in university level, then it would go pretty useless. There are several reasons behind this such as the main problem has been found in high school education. The school level graduates were not found as capable as to be sent in to the colleges. If the students will be properly able to pass out from high school in a true sense, then it is far more expected that educational sector will grow up. The evincing reforms in school education will be obliging for education system enlightenment. Transformation of results is a queued reform suggested to federal government. Structural changes must be adopted by the government to implement in educational sector such that it may be flourished. The need is to enhance competition and their clear vision. Motivation among student is needed to be augmented. The amplified need of freedom of choices by making awareness in the minds of students is a significant tool. The subjects should be chosen which are vital for country’s economic and social health. This is a good idea to introduce more foreign languages on high school level of education in order to compete globally. Many foreign languages such as French, German and Chinese possess global importance in several fields (King). A proper process of accountability should be brought in to the stream. If policy makers will be completely responsible for the outcomes as well, then they will focus more over the feasibility of the suggested plans and actions. The accountability and audit process should be conducted by the special cell that will ultimately be answerable in front of government. A structured chain of command is required to establish in order to get valuable reforms implemented. Not only planning and implementing is the game of time but also it is the responsibility of policy makers to ensure intended results from those. The accountability (reward and punishment) process will work effectively. The honorable system would surely be producing upright products out of the educational institutions. The hierarchical and active continuous monitoring process will generate viable outcomes as intended. This would be helpful for country covering several attention seeking areas which are thoroughly dependent upon education and its enforcement (Russo, 78). References Kauchak, Donald, and Paul D. Eggen.Introduction to teaching: becoming a professional. 3. ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ [u.a.: PH/Merrill/Pearson, 2008. Print. American education. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Education :, 2012. N.d. Web. 10 May 2013. "Professors and the Students Who Grade Them - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. . "Got a Computer? Get a Degree. - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. . Russo, Charles J.. Debating issues in American education. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE, 2012. Print. Jr, King. " “The Purpose of Education” ."King Institute Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. Read More