The Curriculum in the United States of America
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We have known, the education tradition in the USA, have been known all over the world. The systems and the pedagogic are competent to develop the ability and the skills of both the students and the teachers. The methods are usable for all the education systems around the world. Although all the systems and methodology are popular, but the USA Doesn’t Have A National Curriculum. Many international students, scholars, and educational visitors are surprised to learn that the United States has no national education system. Since education is not mentioned in the U.S. constitution, school policy is a matter for each state to decide.
As underlined items, the American Education System is unlike that in other counties. Though the U.S. Federal Government contributes almost 10 percent to the national education budget, education is primarily the responsibility of state and local government. The Federal government can influence education only by the funding it offers, but this is limited. In almost State County almost 80 percent of public education funds come from state sources. About 17-20 percent comes from local sources, while less than 5 percent comes from the Federal Government. Some state doesn’t have a national high school graduation examination. The Curriculum is determined at the district level; for example, Minneapolis and St. Paul Schools each set their own curricula. We can see, however, state standards, which are a set of goals schools must reach. Students must pass state graduation examinations, although it’s not compulsory for all state education curricula.
At the higher education level, students have a wide range of options when they choose a college or university. Although there are agencies that attempt to place American colleges and universities in rank order, the concept of “FIT” is also important. The grade point averages of admitted students are important, but the majors offered, location, number of students enrolled, and campus culture are all factors in a prospective student’s decision.
The most important point is the value of American education is equal access for all levels. At all levels, the goal is for each learner to reach her or his potential, whatever that might be. We do not always reach this goal and disparities remain. Nevertheless, the United States aspires to offer everyone opportunities to achieve as much education as they can. As an international student, scholar, or visitor, you will hear lots of debate about the proper balance of excellence and equality. America is hopeful that these two values are compatible and not competing goals.
The Two Values of American Education:
• Excellence
• Equality
Every state has its own department of education and laws regulating finance, the hiring of school personnel, student attendance, and curriculum.
States also determine the number of years of compulsory education. In most states, education is compulsory from five or six to sixteen; but in some states, teens have to stay in school until age 18. So every state has great control over what is taught in its schools and over the requirements that a student must meet, and it is also responsible for the funding of schooling.
The unique system is in most States, the public education system is further divided into local school districts, which are managed by a school board, representing the local community. School districts can be small, covering just a small town or rural county, or enormous, covering a whole large city; according to their local policy, they are responsible for coordinating education policies, planning for changing educational needs in the community, and often even establishing programs and curricula. They will also delegate a varying amount of freedom or independence to each individual school within their sector (with some exceptions, such as general rules concerning health and safety).
From this, we can see the curriculum doesn’t have to be crucial standards to measure education or to control the education systems to meet the needs. The interesting point is that the local community can influence both the curriculum and the education systems. Nevertheless, the basic foundation of the curriculum is to make the education systems run along with the need of a country and to prepare the pupils to overcome the later life of this modern environment.
Source: Special research by the writer
