School

School is one of the most dreaded words for many children and adults in American society today. The mention of the word for some children makes them irritable and angry, as for some adults it brings back memories that they have forgotten in time. Do you remember what it was like to go to school' Getting up early in the mornings, waiting on the bus or our parents to take us to school, and as we got to school the feeling of nervousness setting in as we got to class. Let us not forget those summer vacations that seemed to come and go so quickly. For some Americans, the opportunity to obtain an education was out of reach for one reason or another. Stories have been told by parents of quitting school at an early age to help support their families’ or people just did not want to go to school. The history of education in America and the quality of the system it-self has been a focus for many politicians, parents, students and teachers, from the early years of colonial America to the present day; the American educational system has been a process in the making. American education has advanced greatly over the past few decades, from one room schoolhouses to distance learning, providing a better opportunity for everyone to obtain an education. The earliest classrooms in American society were usually held in one-room schoolhouses, and sometimes in people’s own home. These classrooms were small and rarely furnished with a basic design. Students were comprised of different age groups and grade levels sharing the same classroom and a lot of times the same books. According to PBS (2001), in rural communities the resources for education was limited, and there was a lack of commercially available products for schools. Most of the time the schools would be open only for a few months of the year, usually when children were not needed to work at home or on the farm. Many children who attended school had to quit to go to work and help support their families. (Evolving Classroom, para.1). School just was not important to some Americans who felt that they would rather work instead of obtain an education, something that would be somewhat difficult in the future. Wikipedia (2009), “By 1900, 31 states required children to attend school from the ages of 8- to 14-years-old. As a result, by 1910 72 % of American children attended school. Half the nation's children attended one-room schools”. As the number of children attending school increased, States began to fund public school systems in The United States. Massachusetts was the first state to fund public schools. Following its lead, other states in the North began to fund public schools. By 1919, every state in the Union made going to school at least up to the tenth grade compulsory. Early 1600 settlers established a Christian-based educational system run by the church. According to Thattai (n.d.), in the 1600s the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire provided the most preliminary form of public education available. These colonies had an overriding belief on educating the children for religious reasons. The only groups in existence in the colonies at this time were the Puritans and the Congregationalists, so establishing a system that would educate children for religious reasons was not that hard to create. (High Schools, para.2) Classrooms took on a change as the population expanded. Earlier populations used education for advancing spiritual well being and the population growth resulted in issues of church and state. With people of different countries and different faiths, the belief of educating children due to religious reasons weakened. The influx of people to America changed education in the Colonial era to teach children subjects such as civilization building, private enterprise and personal wealth. The education system in America advanced to provide a better education in the 1840’s. The earlier education system was thought to be highly localized and available only to the wealthy, but reformers such as, Horace Mann of Massachusetts and Henry Barnard of Connecticut, opposed this and felt that all children should gain from the benefits of an education. They took their educational issues to the public and it soon resulted in free public education at the elementary level available for all American children by the end of the 19th century (Thattai, n.d.). American towns did not provide high schools until 1910 (Wikipedia, 2009). The attendance of American high school students was one of the most interesting developments in the U.S. education system during the 20th century. The percentage of teenagers who graduated from high school increased from about 6 % to about 85 % from 1900 to 1996. Most states during the 20th century enacted legislation extending compulsory education laws to the age of 16 (Thattai, n.d). Schools continue to grow and many are overcrowding causing some students to be taught in portable trailers on school campuses across America. Universities were established to provide higher education for students. At the start of the 20th century, the number of colleges in the United States was fewer than 1,000 with 160,000 students (Wikipedia, 2009). According to The National Center for Education Statistics(2009),” In the fall of 2009, a record 18.4 million students are expected to attend the nation’s 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, this is an increase of about 3.1 million since the fall of the year 2000”(College and University Education, para 1). Distance learning has also been developed to provide a convenient way to obtain a higher education. Distance education is defined as a formal education process in which the students and instructor are not in the same place. Courses are usually taken on-line instead of on campus, which is often considered easier for students to get a higher education and work to provide for their families at the same time. Being in front of a computer taking online courses are not as demanding for some people and it provides a way for them to obtain the feedback needed to earn a degree. Not only has the classrooms changed over the years, but the curriculum has as well. The curriculum of schools has changed to keep up with the ever changing society. In Colonial times the subjects were basic literature, writing, and grammar. As society changed subjects such as World Language, Economics, and Civics were created. Yet again society is advancing more every day, so many schools are now looking to move beyond a focus on core subjects by promoting understanding of academic content at much higher levels. Schools are now trying to weave 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2004). The creation of subjects like Global Awareness, Civic Literacy, and Entrepreneurial Literacy will help students to evolve into the 21st century and be prepared to face the many challenges the future has to offer. Higher education in American society provides better career opportunities for many individuals. Considering the opportunities that are available for Americans today compared to the past, the chances of success is greater. In early rural areas, some children had to quit school in order to work in the fields or help provide for their families. At a time in American society it was possible to graduate high school and be capable to obtain employment in a host of white-collar positions and certain blue-collar ones as well (Wikipedia, 2009). The American economy has put a strain on the career opportunities of many people who do not have an opportunity for higher education. The days of getting a high school diploma and finding a good paying job are long gone. In order to establish a successful career in a field where the pay is great and beneficial, one must consider the possibilities of earning some form of higher education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that individuals with less than a high school diploma has a median weekly earning of four-hundred and twenty-six dollars, which is significantly lower than a individual who has a Doctoral degree with a median weekly earning of One-thousand five hundred and fifty-five dollars. These facts alone can make an individual think about researching possibilities of enrolling in some form of higher education. Obtaining a degree in higher education can help get higher paying jobs and help maintain employment. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate in 2008 for an individual with a Doctorial degree was 2.0% compared to 5.7% for an individual with a high school diploma. The American educational system has advanced greatly over the past few decades, from one room schoolhouses to distance learning, providing a better opportunity for everyone to obtain an education. Although the past seems fairly basic and simple, the educational system was still a complex and sometimes unforgiving virtue that many Americans have come to face. As the future of technology continues to grow, so will the many advancements of the educational system in America. With these advancements come a multitude of experiences in higher education and career fields. Probably the most important experience would be personal satisfaction in one’s life and a determination to exceed to levels that in previous years was not available to Americans. The future of the American society and the American educational system will continue to develop as well as the interest in achieving goals to great success in our educational needs and career goals. All these combined together can strengthen the virtues and values of society in America. It is important to remember and understand what we have done and what is going to be done in the future. Education is a must, and only we can change the outcome of a system that is changing through different technologies and core subjects. The future is ours and all we have to do is grab on and enjoy the ride. References Bureau of Labor Statistics. November, 2009. Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Retrieved December 19, 2009, from http://www.bls.gov/lau/ Partnership for 21st Century Skills. No-Date. Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://www.education.com/topic/academic-subjects-21st-century/ School: The Story of American Public Education. 2001. Evolving Classroom. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschools/evolving_classroom/index.html Thattai, D. No-Date. History of Education in the United States. Retrieved October 29, 2009, from http://www.servintfree.net/~aidmn-ejournal/publications/2001-11/PublicEducationIn United States.html U.S. Department of Education. February 6, 2009. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://www.ed.gov/about/pubs/intro/innovations.html Wikipedia. 2009. A History of Public Education in the United States. Retrieved October 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Education_in_the_United_States