NationStates Jolt Archive

How many people truly believe that the education in the United States is failing? Here in New Hampshire, its not that the schools are failing, but the students themselves have given up on boring topics like History (personally, history is my favorite). If you do believe that the education system is failing, is there anything that the states can do to get kids interested in the past?

I'm an outsider, so my opinion will not be a first-hand-experienced kind of idea, but I think that it has to do with the school system in the USA in general.

When I think back to my school days, there were a number of subjects I just hated. I never liked maths to much, I hated Latin, I couldn't remember chemical formula etc. Yet I, along with most people in my class, kept on learning. Why? Because we all knew that this was our way to university. Simple as that. And we all knew that we could got to university if we wanted to, nobody would expect us to pay for the education there, on the contrary if we had financial problems during that time the government would help us out.
I think it was this knowledge that kept us going.
In the USA, being a good student doesn't guarantee you a place at college, you need parents who can afford it. If your parents can't afford it, why bother with good grades in High School?

I think if you gave the kids some incentive, some perspective of what they might use their good grades for, you will get them interested again. Not necessarily in the subject, but at least in learning all the necessary about it.

Not in the short term, no. Create an atmosphere in society whereby history and other such subjects are viewed as relevant and essential to living a good life...to do that you will be working against an ingrained bias of American culture.

Its only possible with a focus effort on many levels, moreover the society actually should see a need or desire for such things...As it is there are few political ways to create this perception reliably. If it happens, its likely as not to be by chance.

Education in the US is not failing, but of course it could be improved. The proof that it is not failing is in the product it is producing. Highly sought after professionals in every field continue to be produced by the US education system. Leaders in the fields of medicine, engineering, science, economics, maths, and other subjects continue to be produced by the US education system. There are things that could be done better, but it is not failing.

[We] all knew that we could got to university if we wanted to, nobody would expect us to pay for the education there, on the contrary if we had financial problems during that time the government would help us out.
I think it was this knowledge that kept us going.
In the USA, being a good student doesn't guarantee you a place at college, you need parents who can afford it. If your parents can't afford it, why bother with good grades in High School?

There are TONS of scholarships available for persons who cannot pay for college. It's middle class parents who are most strapped... and what is wrong with paying one's own way (at least in part)? I did it, and you can be sure I took my classes pretty damned seriously when repeating one would have cost me 500 dollars or more.

boring topic
History

Those three words do not ever belong in the same sentence as eachother.

There are TONS of scholarships available for persons who cannot pay for college. It's middle class parents who are most strapped... and what is wrong with paying one's own way (at least in part)? I did it, and you can be sure I took my classes pretty damned seriously when repeating one would have cost me 500 dollars or more.

In Ireland we took the fact that graduates, as a group, earn more [and therefore pay more tax] than non-graduates and turned that round: *Everyone* is entitled to one free go through third level system [provided they meet the entry requirements and compete for places]. If they need to repeat, they pay. If they screw up, they're out - rejoining costs money.

Those three words do not ever belong in the same sentence as eachother.
History is in no way a boring topic.

History is in no way a boring topic.

Well, it's okay if you throw a "no" and a "not" in there. ;)

I'm an outsider, so my opinion will not be a first-hand-experienced kind of idea, but I think that it has to do with the school system in the USA in general.

When I think back to my school days, there were a number of subjects I just hated. I never liked maths to much, I hated Latin, I couldn't remember chemical formula etc. Yet I, along with most people in my class, kept on learning. Why? Because we all knew that this was our way to university. Simple as that. And we all knew that we could got to university if we wanted to, nobody would expect us to pay for the education there, on the contrary if we had financial problems during that time the government would help us out.
I think it was this knowledge that kept us going.
In the USA, being a good student doesn't guarantee you a place at college, you need parents who can afford it. If your parents can't afford it, why bother with good grades in High School?

I think if you gave the kids some incentive, some perspective of what they might use their good grades for, you will get them interested again. Not necessarily in the subject, but at least in learning all the necessary about it.

Some people know that their education will pay off down the line, some don't. Those that don't deserve what they get. For those that try, the system does its share. You can get into college without money. Discriminating because of ability to pay is not supposed to be a deciding factor. All colleges offer financial aid, and even still, many middle class people who are too high for substantial aid, but still not rich enough to pay the high fees, get through with student loans. Very low interest rates, it can be done (and is all the time).