Education in the United States of America Gao

Education in the United States of America Gao Guangyan, Daniel Lo, Ong Woo Han 4 L 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 • Democratic constitutional federal republic of fifty states • 296, 600, 000 Population est. (2005) • GDP per capita: $41, 557 • Largest Religion: Christianity • Main Language: English

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

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$400 b.

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

Investment • Correlation between education and economic growth --> prompted government to increase spending in education. • US$501. 3 b, 4. 27% of GDP in 2004 • US$482. 0 b in 2003 • US$462. 7 b in 2002

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

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

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 9 th grade. • Electives are generally limited to only one or two classes.

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

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)

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.

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.

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

No Child Left Behind Act President Bush

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

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

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.

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

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 8 am • Students love holidays (esp. summer break)

Singapore Education • Governed by Ministry of Education • Begins at Nursery / Kindergarten • First 6 years in primary school (compulsory), PSLE conducted 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

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

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

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

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

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

The End Thank you for your attention.

The End Thank you for your attention. What is my pentagon doing in your flag? !