The Failure of the American Educational System

The Future of American society is bleak. Within time, all of society will wander the barren streets of a desolate wasteland they once called a grand civilization. The cause will not be plague or famine. The cause will not be nuclear war. Nor will it be a catastrophic economic meltdown. The blame will fall on the ignorant and ill educated population and their failure to prohibit such events. Ultimately, America's inability to provide proper education in high school and college, and the students' unwillingness to learn, will lead to its own demise.

The first problem with the American educational system is the low expectations set upon the students in American high schools. In contrast, countries like Germany and Japan employ a multi-tier educational system that separates the bright from the ignorant. When students leave elementary school, they are required to take a placement test to assess their level of learning. Students are then admitted into a school of their choice depending on their aptitude and chosen career path. Those who achieve higher grades are allowed to continue with generalized learning curriculums suited for higher education. The others will continue in vocational and technical schools that will teach them the skills needed to enter the workforce after high school. Students in these countries are not limited to schools in relation to their geographic location either. They are allowed to attend a school of their choice regardless of location. In addition, a sense of equality in these countries does not outweigh the value of individual excellence in education. In American high schools, it would not be unlikely to see a young Steven Hawking sitting next to a young George W. Bush in a physics class. The first of which could prove or disprove any hypothesis put before him, while the latter would not even be able to properly pronounce the word 'nuclear.' In America's eyes, everyone is created equal, and in many respects this is America's greatest downfall in regards to education. Due to this ideology, classes are taught to the lowest common denominator. Many intellectual students will never be challenged, and in turn will never strive to succeed. Another fault of the American high school system is that we place no emphasis on foreign culture. It can be argued that the United States of America is the only true superpower in the world. Most American high school studies are centralized around American culture and fail to instruct students on the world outside US borders. In Japan, every student is required to travel to another country with their class before they graduate. It allows the student to view the world in a perspective otherwise not seen by simply reading about it. The majority of American high school students will likely never visit another country during their education. Many feel it's unnecessary to learn about anything but American culture. It's close-minded to say the least.

Unfortunately, the problem does not stop here. America's inability to provide a proper education is prevalent in colleges and universities as well. Again, equality takes precedence over individual excellence. Everyone has the right to attend college in America. However, not

everyone should attend college. Most who attend will not complete a degree program of any kind. Often, they find it difficult to grasp the concepts presented to them. Yet, these students are allowed to finish out semesters in which they are failing, and even take the classes over again the next semester. Instead, they should be removed from enrollment so that willing and able students can learn in their place. Another issue is that the degree requirements in higher education are too construed. Students are forced into curriculums that are too narrow in thought. Often they are not required to take classes that would teach them broader ideas, which would help them understand their major on a larger scale. For instance, and art student may never understand the emotions an artist encompasses in his works without understanding what led him to feel that way. Is the artist angry with his government? Does he feel insignificant in life? Without taking courses like history or philosophy, the student would never know. Colleges and universities do not have a standard curriculum throughout the country. Teachers from different schools will inevitably teach completely different ideas. Many times their personal beliefs and biases will show through in their teachings. Students will think that what they taught is law, and will never think twice about questioning what they learn. Without thinking critically about what they learn, they will lose track of what freedom of thought truly means. Americans will continue to become sheep.

In addition to the problems with the school system, the students themselves are also to blame. Many students today have no interest in obtaining an education. It's believed the sooner they get out of school, the sooner their life begins. Unfortunately, these are people that will one day teach others, treat illnesses, and attempt to run governments. Even if they obtain degrees, it will be done by doing the least amount of work possible or even cheating. When a person is dying, their family would not choose a doctor who does the least possible to save them. It's regrettable to say, however, that when the topic of education reform comes up, most people don't have a say in the matter. Soon, the American government will be run by high school and college dropouts. These individuals will be looked up to for their enduring effort to succeed without a proper education. They will pronounce their life story, and will inevitably inspire others to follow the same route. Although one will feel compassion for their story, it will be hard to trust these individuals with America's future. Essentially, these will be the people in charge of our militaries, and in turn our nuclear arsenals. Perhaps they will take shortcuts in war, and drop a nuclear weapon instead of negotiating peace. After all, without a formalized education they would most likely never understand proper foreign policy or negotiating skills. Nuclear war will develop from the inability to understand global policies. America will blame their enemies instead of blaming themselves. In the end, it will be Americans who vote for their leaders, and in turn their futures. As this is unavoidably the case, the future of America is bleak.

As the rest of the world advances, America will slowly withdraw from being an international superpower. It will fade away into the shadows of ignorance, and become a society driven by greed, consumerism and an obvious disregard for its future. Americans will try to find blame in anyone but themselves, but fail to do so. Without reform to America's high schools and colleges, America will inevitably see its demise at the hands of the students meant to save it.