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Education in the United States of America

Education in the United States of America. United States of America. Gao Guangyan, Daniel Lo, Ong Woo Han 4L July 2005 Raffles Institution. Motto: E Pluribus Unum (1789–present) (Latin: "Out of Many, One") In God We Trust (1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner. Introduction.

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Education in the United States of America

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  1. Education in theUnitedStatesofAmerica United States of America Gao Guangyan, Daniel Lo, Ong Woo Han4L July 2005 Raffles Institution

  2. Motto: E Pluribus Unum (1789–present) (Latin: "Out of Many, One") In God We Trust (1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner

  3. Introduction • Democratic constitutional federal republic of fifty states • 296,600,000 Population est. (2005) • GDP per capita: $41,557 • Largest Religion: Christianity • Main Language: English

  4. Education In the USA • A highly decentralized system • Funding, curriculum decisions: at the local level through school boards. • Standards generally set by state agencies. • The federal government, through Department of Education, involved with funding of some programs • Also have nonprofit private schools. • Schools teach primarily in English

  5. Goals and Purposes • Satisfy the demand for highly skilled workers • The key to maintaining competitiveness and prosperity in the global economy. • Evident in recent reports showing that raising student achievement --> national economic growth. • Reports estimate significant improvements in education over a 20 year period can lead to as much as a 4% GDP growth, or over US$400b.

  6. Literacy Rate • Total: 97% Literacy Rate • Male: 97% Literacy Rate • Female: 97% Literacy Rate

  7. Investment • Correlation between education and economic growth --> prompted government to increase spending in education. • US$501.3b, 4.27% of GDP in 2004 • US$482.0b in 2003 • US$462.7b in 2002

  8. School Grades Pre-School, Nursery School: Under 5 Elementary School Kindergarten: 5–6 1st Grade: 6–7 2nd Grade: 7–8 3rd Grade: 8–9 4th Grade: 9–10 5th Grade: 10–11 Middle school(also Junior High) 6th Grade: 11–12 7th Grade: 12–13 8th Grade: 13–14 High school 9th Grade (Freshman): 14–15 10th Grade (Sophomore): 15–16 11th Grade (Junior): 16–17 12th Grade (Senior): 17–18 College or University (usually four years) Freshman: 18–19 Sophomore: 19–20 Junior: 20–21 Senior: 21–22

  9. Elementary School • Students cannot choose their course structure • Remain in a single classroom • One teacher for the entire school day • Education is hardly standardized • Student learns basic algebra, grammar and spelling, and a year of state, national and world history. • Teaching of science varies greatly - one of the most undertaught subjects, • Most teachers only have a degree in English or education

  10. Middle School • Students enroll in class schedules • Classes from several teachers • Classes include science, mathematics, english, social science courses, interspersed with a reading and/or technology class. • PE is compulsory from kindergarten to 9th grade. • Electives are generally limited to only one or two classes.

  11. High School • Students have more control • Can choose their core classes. • Most students take a broad variety of classes • Curriculum varies widely in quality and rigidity • Students take one or more standardized tests - based on postsecondary education preferences - and local graduation requirements • The SAT and ACT are the most common

  12. Elective Courses • Some school offer elective courses such as: •  Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, film) •  Performing Arts (drama, band, orchestra, dance) •  Shop (woodworking, metalworking, automobile) •  Computers (word processing, programming, graphics) •  Athletics (football, baseball, basketball, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, water polo, soccer) •  Publishing (journalism, yearbook) •  Foreign languages (French, German, Spanish)

  13. Gifted Programmes • “Honors” classes for motivated and gifted students • Quality of education is higher and tougher • If funds are available, AP or IB courses available • Most tertiary institutions consider AP or IB results • AP and IB courses equivalent to freshman year courses • Therefore, postsecondary institutions allow students to graduate early.

  14. Tertiary Education • College or university. • Public schools: more lenient ; Private schools : rigorous • ECAs considered for admission • Community college (2 yr) AA degree • Undergraduate study for 4 yrs : bachelor’s degree • Postgraduate study 1-3 yrs: master’s degree. • 3 or more yrs after the completion of a master’s degree, students may earn a doctoral degree.

  15. Changes / Reforms • No Child Left Behind Act • Increasing Education Budget

  16. No Child Left Behind Act PresidentBush

  17. No Child Left Behind Act 2001 • Reauthorization of some federal programs • Strive to improve performance of America's schools • Improved teacher quality (higher standards, e.g. bac. Degree • Scientifically based research strategies in classroom • Increase standards of accountability for all schools • Provide parents more flexibility in choosing schools for child • Increased focus on reading

  18. CASE STUDY Case study (example) of an individual from Arcadia, California USA * Student is in 9th Grade * Arcadia, California  One of the best districts in USA School system: Split into districts that cover the city

  19. CASE STUDY • Elementary School (Grade 1 – 5) • Mostly 1 teacher who teaches everything • History, Basic Math, Basic Science, English • Physical Education (mostly ‘play time’ but later progressed to ‘exercise time’) • Music: Sing, learned recorder in Grade 3 (similar to us) • Teacher would sit down with students for 20 mins after lunch to read books to them.

  20. CASE STUDY • Middle School • Schedule with 6 periods • 20 mins of free reading after lunch • Some interesting lessons: • Robotics (played with lego mindstorms for 1 semester) • Exploratory: choose 2 classes, like art/music/video production/ industrial tech (make stuff out of wood) / journalism/etc • English: More writing, Reading Romeo and Juliet, Do an act from a scene, read “To Kill a Mockingbird” • Run 1 mile for every PE lesson

  21. CASE STUDY • School Life • School days and holidays • ~ 6 hr long days • Slowly get longer as the years passed • 5 days a week, few Mondays off, 2 weeks for X’mas and New Year • 1 Week spring break • 2.5 month summer break • Starts at 8am • Students love holidays (esp. summer break)

  22. Singapore Education • Governed by Ministry of Education • Begins at Nursery / Kindergarten • First 6 years in primary school (compulsory), PSLEconducted on last year. • Heavily Subsidized School Fees • Pass > secondary school • 4 or 5 years in secondary school. CCAs compulsory • O Level’s held on final year unless… • Through-train programmes – skip O Level’s

  23. Singapore Education • Sec school: If pass: Junior College (2 years) orPolytechnic (3/4 years) • A levels at the end of 2nd year, to university if pass • For polytechnics, students can join universities on the last year. • Very exam-oriented • Very stressful STRESS

  24. Similarities and Differences • Similarities • Emphasis on Education for Economy • Semestral Assessments of students • Fitness and Health emphasised • Meritocracy: IB, AP, Honours classes v.s GEP • Differences • US has K-12 system, different • Mandatory education: 16-18 vs. 12 • Singapore is more centralised (MOE) • Free education in USA • Os and As in Singapore, SAT and ACT in USA

  25. Good Points • United States of America • Investment in Education: Students have equal opportunities • Decentralized system, allows automation • Recognizes gifted students, provides for them • More creative (slightly) than Singapore (too rigid) • Republic of Singapore • Efficient MOE • Constant updating of syllabus • Competitive environment – stimulates learning • Top international quizzes regularly

  26. Bad Points • United States of America • One teacher for Elementary School: No good • Decentralization causes large variations • Republic of Singapore • STRESSFUL life • Too Rigid, no creativity STRESS

  27. Learning Areas • More decentralized system - Schools: more autonomy • Generate schools which cater to the needs of different students. - Establish specialised schools, similar to “magnet schools” - E.g. Sport schools • Increase the number of years of mandatory education. - To develop a larger pool of talents - Contribute to a larger skilled workforce - Maintain competitive economy • Less Stressful Education - Students work smarter, not harder - Increase life-span, standard of living

  28. The EndThank you for your attention.

  29. The EndThank you for your attention. What is my pentagon doing in your flag?!

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