43202 (American System of Education), страница 3

As far as the disadvantages of American system of education are concerned nearly all the alumni we have questioned name a low level of knowledge schools give their student, especially in math. For example Evgenia Bogatova (2005-2006, Volgograd) was shocked when she saw juniors and seniors having troubles solving quadratic equations and identities.

Another minus is related more to the mentality or national set of mind rather than to the system of education. Many citizens of the USA admit that America is mostly concerned with America. Young people put it in a more rigorous way. Nastia Peshina (2004-2005, Ekaterinburg) says: “The bad part that Americans are crazy about the USA and pretty much don’t know tons of stuff about the world. I would add Geography at least one required year.” She is echoed by Ekaterina Kononova (2007-2008, Saratov): “A very big part of Americans don’t care about what goes around somewhere farther than their own American nose. So negative but it is true. I seriously like their motto: “There is the US, and there is the rest of the world”. You can see it pretty often in their foreign policy. But again it is a national part of their character. But the educational system could change it…”

Among other disadvantages the alumni mention are low level of teaching foreign languages, 12 grades which some of them think to be too long.

The point which is viewed by some alumni as a plus and by others as a minus is that in every class you meet new students. On the one hand it helps you to meet a lot of new people, but on the other hand it doesn’t give you a chance to feel as part of the group as the result students meet each other at school every day, but sometimes they don’t even know each other’s name. “They don’t become friends because every 45 minutes in school you are going to class with different people and there is nothing that can unite you all together.”

3 Conclusion

In conclusion we can say that the main goal of our research, to examine the system of secondary education from the inside and outside, seems to be achieved. We have made a brief outline of American school from the point of view of those who are within the system, the onlookers and exchange programs participants, who are able to compare and contrast.

It goes without saying that there is no system of education which can be called perfect. The National Commission on Excellence in Education which worked in the USA at the end of the previous century asserted: “The education foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity”. The commission’s recommendations for improving student achievement included the following points:

1. Strong academic curricula, with a back-to-basic emphasis on reading, writing, math and science;

2. Stricter standards for students, including a heavier homework load and higher grading standards;

3. Higher salaries to attract and keep talented, well-qualified teachers.

Doesn’t it prove that in spite of all differences education all over the Globe faces similar problems and to solve them joined efforts of all those who make up the system are required.

List of Literature

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3. Cooper Ryan. Those Who Can Teach. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994.

4. Current Issues. Close Up Press, 2007-2008

5. New Encyclopedia. Funk and Wagnalls, 2001.

6. Stevenson D.K. American Life and Institutions. Barrons Educational Series, 2003.

7. Fiedler E., Jansen R. America in Close Up. Longman, 2001.

8. Kirn E. About the USA. The office of English Language Programs, Washington, DC, 1989.