Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

American K-12 Education is doing just fine.  It is popular among politicians and media to hammer on American Education, claiming it is not doing well compared to the rest of the world.  If that is the case, why is the rest of the world continuing to send their children here to learn as exchange students?  Why is it a huge plus on their resume to be able to say they’ve studied in the United States?

I find it irresponsible and unacceptable when politicians and media use negative “news” about education to get ratings or votes.

When you view TV programs that judge American schools, please keep in mind the following:

• In most countries a student chooses a strand of study starting in 8th grade.  This strand can be health care, technology, service industry, or college.  The students tested for these comparisons on TV are only the college bound students.  Here in America we test ALL students, so the comparison on these academic tests is between their college bound students and all our students.  I say we need to compare apples to apples before we start crying that our education is of lesser quality than the rest of the world.

• In most countries schools do not provide any sort of sports.  That is a community involvement issue, like clubs.  In America, many more students have an opportunity to participate in sports as it is sponsored by the schools.  Athletic programs teach young people discipline through practice, team work and perseverance.  They also allow students an opportunity to shine and excel.

• In most countries they do not have Special Education, or if they do, it is very limited.  In America we provide special help for all students who need it. In America we have numerous laws that ensure help for special needs students.

• In America we stress creativity and problem solving.  One of the reasons we are so advanced compared to most other countries is because of the innovations and creative free thinking that help develop all the advanced products we see today.

• Teamwork is a concept that is now common all around the world, but America is the place where it has evolved to the level it is today.

America’s Public Schools provide quality education. We should be proud of our students and our schools.  We teach, and test, concepts in fourth grade which 25 years ago were taught in high school.  We teach far more concepts than ever before and we do it in the same, or less, amount of time.  We teach all our students, regardless of ability or interest.  We, in addition to teaching, also supply physical therapy, speech therapy, counseling and social work.  We provide breakfast and lunch, text books and other materials.  We, in addition to teaching the basics (reading, writing, math, science and social studies) also teach music, art, physical education, computer technology, foreign languages, dance, debate, theater, business technology and industrial arts, etc.  We provide opportunities for leadership through student council, and sports, to name a few.  The list is endless of all the things your public schools do for your child, while always teaching basic skills and character education.

Teachers are held responsible for student achievement, yet have no control over if that student will do homework, get enough sleep, want to learn, spend enough time at home studying, or is happy and safe at home.  That, to me, is equal to rating all dentists on the number of cavities their patients have.  Nobody would expect the dentist to be accountable for what people eat, and how they take care of their teeth, yet we expect our schools and teachers to somehow control all aspects around a student’s life and ensure their success.  I am impressed by how much success teachers have, while overcoming all the negative variables that affect a student’s chances for high achievement. People refer to an individual teacher they know not be outstanding and therefore judge all teachers to be bad. Most people can also name a dentist they claim is not outstanding, but wouldn’t condemn all dentists based on a few. As the saying goes – “You see what you are looking for”, and we, as a society, need to be looking for, and therefore finding, all the excellent things taking place in American Public Schools.

I grew up in Europe and I also went to school here in America. I speak from personal experience as well as research - - - and I tell you, there is not a school anywhere in the world that is any better than public education in America.

Eivor Swan is Superintendent of Wayland Union Schools.

Allegan County Public Schools - “Excelling In Education”

The Education Viewpoint is a monthly column written in rotation by the Allegan County Public Schools Superintendents. This article is not the opinion of all the superintendents or of this website.