Ever since the public education system of the United States was first established, there has been one question that has been debated, challenged, argued over, fought over, and fought over, and which has not yet been answered. Namely, who should exercise authority over the public education system; the individual, the local community or the federal government rises questions like who controls education in America? Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and each has dominated the education system in America. Sometimes parents, municipalities, and federal agencies even worked for hand in hand, each taking control of different aspects of education.
Who is fighting for education in the USA?
You must be wondering under whose controls education in America is working. This is a really tough question that requires a lot of foresight before diving into it. First, we begin with a basic analysis of the pros and cons of each front in the fight for education; namely the individual, the community, and the state or federal government. So the individual could be the one running the show, after all, who knows better what is best for one’s children than themselves? Unfortunately, most Americans are ill-informed or inadequately informed about many issues concerning education in the United States today.
Issues related to education in America
Now the community may be a better choice for deciding what to learn because more heads are better than one. But what if what one community considers relevant and useful and important is not what another community considers the same? Then there will be a huge gap in what people from one city know and what people in another don’t, leading to isolated community bubbles. Maybe then there should be at least one huge entity that decides the minimum knowledge base so that everyone has at least equal opportunities and similar knowledge about the world and society they live in.
Teacher controls of education in America
Teachers must provide them with a “common core of knowledge,” which brings us to the last pillar of public education in America—the state. (Hochschild, Jennifer. The American Dream and the Public Schools. Kindle Edition.) The state must provide all public schools with a minimum knowledge base so that all students leaving school should prepare themselves, to begin their lives. It becomes productive members of American society and the economy.
Who controls education in America?
So, now that all the issues of power and funding have been laid out on the proverbial school desk and scrutinized, who can draw conclusions? Who should have authority over what is taught in America’s public schools, and where should the funding come from so that all children can leave school and enter the world with equal opportunity?
Opportunities require in education
- First, the federal government should establish a minimum standard of knowledge. This should include everything from a strong liberal arts core to vocational and technical training, from physical education and music to civics and government.
- Second, local school boards should require students to spend some time being active in their community. As well as choosing a curriculum that is relevant to the children in that community.
- Third, there must be a wide variety of options in the classes that students can attend. There are many ways that students can get a strong liberal arts core, democratic preparation, and all the other essentials of a good education. It should allow students to focus on what interests them.
- Finally, school funding must be directly regulated by the federal government. For to close the huge gap in the quality of education between urban and suburban schools.
Conclusion
Hope you got some of your points clear regarding who controls education in America. There is still much more involved in raising American children than issues of power and funding. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t good places to start when thinking about how to reform our nation’s public education system. We as American citizens must do something to combat the huge disparity in the quality of our children’s education. Should increase our declining graduation rate, and catch up with the rest of the Western world. But that’s just the beginning. To truly begin to change America’s public education system, we must first educate ourselves.