Findings Nation At Risk

• Knowledge• Learning• Skilled Intelligence

• Regarding Content• Regarding Expectations• Regarding Time• Regarding Teaching

Curriculum Secondary school curricula no longer has meaning Students chose their own courses, only 6 to 31% of students

completed core curricular subjects High school credits earned were determined remedial

Level of knowledge student should possess

Grades should reflect degree of student mastery High school/colleges should reflect higher level subjects Tests should indicate mastery of content and skill before receiving

diploma College admissions should reflect high school standards Texts and reading should reflect difficulty of subject matter

Deficiencies noted in level of knowledge Decrease in Homework , rising grades and declining achievement In industrialized nations cores subjects begin in 6th grade. Survey revealed states offer 1 yr of science and few offered only 1

year of Science. Even less require foreign language. “Minimum competency” tests lead to Lower educational standards 1/5 of colleges except graduates regardless of high program. 23% of colleges reported a decline in high school course

requirements Teachers aren’t involved in textbook writings and subject-matter

was not challenging and decline in money for textbooks

US typical school day 6 hrs. and 180 days, compared to 8 hrs. 220 days

Importance of core subjects are valued the same as remedial courses

Students spend only 17- 22 hrs. of academic instruction in a week Poor management of classroom time suggest that elementary

students only receive 1/5 instruction Study skills are not taught sufficiently which impacts the study

habits of college bound students

Less qualified teachers because of students ranking in high school Teaching curriculum in centered around “educational methods”

rather than subject matter courses. Low salary for teachers Shortages of teachers in major areas.

RECOMENDATIONSRECOMENDATIONS

CONTENTCONTENT

EXPECTATIONSEXPECTATIONS

TIMETIME

TEACHINGTEACHING