EDUCATION IN THE USA

Monika Kuliga

Klaudia Wojnar

HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE USA Free public schools were opened in 17th century Harvard College established in 1636 The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg established in 1693 Yale established in 1701 University of North Carolina – the first US state university – 1789 Many changes in public education introduced by Horace Mann By 1850 every state had developed a system of free public schools

paid for by public taxes 1865 – education became available to all white children By 1900 – over 1,000 institutions of higher education in the USA 1837, Oberlin College, Ohio – the first to admit women on equal

basis with men 1954 – racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional

OVERVIEW Educational system is based on strong tradition of local control Each state has its own laws regulating education The federal government is committed to programmes providing equal

education opportunity Three basic levels of education system – elementary, secondary, higher

education There are state-supported and private schools School year lasts from September to mid-May The 6-3-3 plan

CURRICULUM REFORMAmericans realized in the 1970s and 1980s that there had been an alarming decline of educational efficiency in many public elementary and high schools due to the lack of qualified teachers, changes in curricula and lowering of educational standards, e.g. There were reports about students who were graduated from high schools although they were functionally illiterate and could not read and write well enough to complete an application for employment.

CULTURAL ILLITERACYCultural illiteracy is a term coined by E. D. Hirsch , referring to the ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture. Cultural literacy is an analogy to literacy proper (the ability to read and write letters). A literate reader knows the object-language's alphabet, grammar, and a sufficient set of vocabulary; a culturally literate person knows a given culture's signs and symbols, including its language, particular dialectic, stories, entertainment, idioms, idiosyncrasies, and so on. The culturally literate person is able to talk to and understand others of that culture with fluency, while the culturally illiterate person fails to understand culturally-conditioned allusions, references to past events, idiomatic expressions, jokes, names, places, etc.

SCHOOL VIOLENCESchool violence is widely held to have become a serious problem in recent decades in many countries, especially where weapons such as guns or knives are involved. It includes violence between school students as well as physical attacks by students on school staff.

Each year 3 million young people in the United States fall victim to crimes at school.

The Tragedy at Columbine High School in Colorado, April 1999 – two teenage students shot dead twelve schoolmates and a teacher before commiting suicide, the worst tragedy of its kind in the history of American public schools.

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION Introduction to formal education usually begins in kindergarten classes Children begin instructions at age of four or five Programmes in pre-school classes are flexible Children learn basic skills – the letters of the alphabet, basic colours etc.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Lasts 6-8 years Is for children from 6 to 12 or 14 years of age Children learn “Three R’s” (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) There are special tutoring for weaker children Learning is a cooperation, not competition Subjects include: English, mathematics, science, social studies, music, PE Bussing – a policy which ensures that public schools are racially mixed Classes from 8 a.m. to 3-4 p.m. Monday – Friday

SECONDARY EDUCATION Most high-school students enrolled in public secondary education, 10%

students enrolled in private schools (the end of the 1990s) The American high school – 19th-century invention Six-year high school divided into junior high and senior high Four-year high school for students who have completed the eighth grade There are all kinds of subjects Courses - English, science, social studies, mathematics and PE Optional subjects – foreign languages, arts, business, home economics etc. Students graded from A to F Extracurricular activities – bands, choirs, debating clubs, swimming etc. On completing high school students receive a diploma There’s not such thing like Polish „matura”

SAT or ACT?SAT and ACT are tests for high school students who wish to attend a

college or university.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) has sections on English language, skills and mathematics and it’s taken by approximately 40% of high school graduates .

ATC (American College Testing), composed of a series of tests in English, mathematics, reading and sience is taken by approximately 35% of high school graduates.

A school transcript is usually given to students to apply for administration to colleges or universities. It summarizes that courses taken and grades obtained in high school and must be scrutinized by the admissions committee of the prospective college.

QUiZ

1. When were the first free public schools opened in America?

a) In 17th centuryb) In 18th centuryc) In 19th century

a) In 17th century

2. School year lasts from:

a) October – Mayb) September – Mayc) September – June

b) September - May

3. What happened at Columbine High School in April 1999?

a) Teenage students strangled schoolmates b) Teenage students shot the headmaster

c) Teenage students shot schoolmates and a teacher

c) Teenage students shot schoolmates and a teacher

4. Children go to pre-school at the age of:

a) Two or threeb) Three or fourc) Four or five

c) Four or five

5. What subject is NOT taught in elementary school?

a) Chemistryb) Foreign languages

c) Geography

b) Foreign languages

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION