TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY American Culture Unit Five UNIT 5 Education in America

TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY

American CultureAmerican CultureUnit Five

UNIT 5

Education in AmericaEducation in America


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Education in AmericaEducation in America

Ever since early colonial times Americans have shown a great concern for education.

They regard good education as a way of “bettering oneself”, of “rising in the world”, and as a fundamental part of the American Dream.


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I. Philosophy of American EducationI. Philosophy of American Education

In the first place, education in the United States has been shaped by the American belief in religious freedom.

The puritans believed that every person should be educated so that he could read the Bible in his own way.

In the colonial period, the Puritans introduced two practices that still influence American education: compulsory education for all children, and public taxation for schools.

A. Practice of religious freedom


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The first colonists had not only believed that education was important to the preservation of religious freedom, but also important to the preservation of a democratic republic.

Thomas Jefferson argued that the survival of a democracy depends on the intelligent participation of all its citizens.

Every American needs to be educated so that he can understand and take part in affairs of government, both local and national.

B. Preservation of American democracy


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1. 1. Common schoolCommon school The United States was the first The United States was the first industrial nation to adopt the notion of industrial nation to adopt the notion of mass education—the idea that everyone mass education—the idea that everyone is entitled to a certain amount of publicly is entitled to a certain amount of publicly provided education and obligated to provided education and obligated to obtain it.obtain it. Horace Mann regarded education as Horace Mann regarded education as the Great Equalizer that could bring the Great Equalizer that could bring more equality to American society. He more equality to American society. He introduced the idea “common school”, introduced the idea “common school”, public education open to all, supported public education open to all, supported by all, and controlled by the people by all, and controlled by the people themselves.themselves.

I. Philosophy of American EducationI. Philosophy of American EducationC. Mass education- the Great Equalizer


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2. 2. Morrill Act (1862)—”land grant Morrill Act (1862)—”land grant colleges”colleges”The act reflected and promoted Horace The act reflected and promoted Horace Mann’s belief in mass education. Mann’s belief in mass education. It extended the principle of mass It extended the principle of mass education to higher education. education to higher education. Under this law, the federal government Under this law, the federal government gave huge tracts of public land to the gave huge tracts of public land to the states for the establishment of “land grant” states for the establishment of “land grant” colleges.colleges.


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3. 3. 3. Servicemen’s Readjustment Act– 3. Servicemen’s Readjustment Act– “GI Bill of Rights” (1944)“GI Bill of Rights” (1944)

Mass higher education was turned Mass higher education was turned into reality. Higher education had been into reality. Higher education had been something for the elite, now it was within something for the elite, now it was within the reach of ordinary citizens.the reach of ordinary citizens.


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Education in America has also traditionally served the goal of Americanization, that is, bringing together millions and millions of immigrants who are from various religious, ethnic, social, and political backgrounds.

D. Americanization


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John Dewey claimed that the only worthwhile knowledge is knowledge that can be used.

He influenced not only what schools should teach, but also how schools should teach.

Today, individualized instruction within a classroom is still an important idea in American education, and “learning by doing ”remains a highly respected approach to child development.

E. Pragmatism


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II. Characteristics of Education in the USII. Characteristics of Education in the US

B

A E

D

C

Compulsory educationCompulsory educationIn 1852, Massachusetts passed the first In 1852, Massachusetts passed the first compulsory education law in the US.compulsory education law in the US.

Debate over Debate over whether to whether to intervene in intervene in another European another European warwar

CoeducationCoeducation

Concern for major public issuesConcern for major public issuesResponding to public pressure, boards Responding to public pressure, boards of education in different areas often add of education in different areas often add courses on various relevant issues to courses on various relevant issues to the curriculum.the curriculum.

Cultivation of creativity Cultivation of creativity and self-relianceand self-reliance


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III. The Structure of Education in AmericaIII. The Structure of Education in America

•A. Elementary & A. Elementary & secondary educationsecondary education

•B. Higher educationB. Higher education

•1. The university1. The university

•2. The college2. The college

•3. The 2-year, or 3. The 2-year, or community collegecommunity college

•4. The technical training 4. The technical training institutioninstitution

The Structure of Education in America

•B. College students are B. College students are chosen on the following chosen on the following basisbasis

•1. High school records; 1. High school records;

•2. recommendations from 2. recommendations from high school teachers; high school teachers;

•3. the impression they make 3. the impression they make during the interviews at the during the interviews at the university; university;

•4. their scores on the SAT—4. their scores on the SAT—Scholastic Aptitude TestScholastic Aptitude Test


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III. The Structure of Education in AmericaIII. The Structure of Education in America

•C. Colleges are ranked C. Colleges are ranked on the following basison the following basis

•Quality of teaching faculty; Quality of teaching faculty; quality of research facilities; quality of research facilities; amount of funding available amount of funding available for libraries; special for libraries; special programs, etc; and the programs, etc; and the competence and number of competence and number of applicants for admission.applicants for admission.

The Structure of Education in America

•D. Education and D. Education and occupational opportunitiesoccupational opportunities

•A college education brings a A college education brings a person distinct advantages as person distinct advantages as he seeks employment he seeks employment opportunities and social opportunities and social mobility within the American mobility within the American society.society.


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IV. Problems in American EducationIV. Problems in American EducationA. Educational inequality

1. Native Americans and African Americans1. Native Americans and African Americans

5. The Coleman 5. The Coleman ReportReport

4. The Civil Rights movement4. The Civil Rights movement3. Brown v. Board of Education Topeka decision (1954)

Educational inequality2. Plessy v. 2. Plessy v.

Ferguson Ferguson decision decision (1896)(1896)

6. Educational programs6. Educational programs Head start—a federal Head start—a federal supported program for supported program for preschoolers from preschoolers from disadvantaged homesdisadvantaged homes Busing—busing Busing—busing students to schools students to schools outside their local outside their local neighborhoods to achieve neighborhoods to achieve school integrationschool integration


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IV. Problems in American EducationIV. Problems in American Education

B. Declining academic performance

1. Functional illiteracy 2. Cultural illiteracy

C. Inadequate funding

D. School violence


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Contemporary

Trends

A. Year-round A. Year-round education—longer education—longer school days and school days and extended calendarsextended calendars

B. The home B. The home schooling schooling movement—movement—more efficient more efficient than mass than mass educationeducation

C. Multicultural education—to promote an appreciation of all cultures

D. Lifelong education

V. Contemporary Trends in American EducationV. Contemporary Trends in American Education


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TIANJIN FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY American Culture Unit Five UNIT 5 Education in America