Brian Agnew Lawsuit | Education Creates Equal Opportunities

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Education Creates Equal Opportunities
Brian Agnew Lawsuit
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Historical Background

• Education has always been of major importance in
  the USA
• Early examples (before1776)
• Colleges
• Free public schools
• Why?

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Historical Background

• Because
• Belief in education is part of the "American
  Dream
• Education is the key to success
• Education provides individual opportunity and
  self-realization
•  

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Historical Background

• Education creates equal opportunities
• Education was (is!) considered a crucial part of
  the Americanization process
• The need to learn English
• The schools were (are!) shaping the American
  culture/ identity Nation building. Values
• "The Pledge of Allegiance". The melting pot

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Historical Background

• Education was also considered important
• because of
• The wish to maintain Christianity
• The need for educated citizens in a democracy
• The need for an educated workforce in the new
  industries

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Authority

• Federal Department of Education
• only advisory role financial help
• State/local responsibility for education
• State boards of education (50)
• Local school districts (some 16,000)
• Each school
• Each teacher / PTA

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Authority Funding

• Division of responsibility
• federal funding 8, state 49, local 43
• Federal funding linked to federal standards/
  recommendations, often tied to specific programs
• State funding varies, depending on the priorities
  and resources of the state
• Local funding is based on property taxes in most
  states

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State and Local Control

• Advantages/ disadvantages of local financing?
  (Take notes!)
• Advantages/ disadvantages of local control of
  textbooks and curriculum?
• Creationism vs. evolution
• Sex education
• Parents pressure (PTA)

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The Structure of the System

• Elementary school 6 years
• (or 8 if Intermediate school is included)
• - start at the age of 6
• High school 6 years (3 3)
• (or 4 years after Intermediate school)
• - not selective
• Colleges and universities

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Public vs. Private Elementary and High Schools

• Public (around 85)
• Private (around 13) mostly religious schools
• Home education (2)

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Elementary School

• RRR
• Grading and testing from first grade
• Core courses and exploratory classes
• After school activities

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High School

• Required classes (core curriculum)
• Electives (the cafeteria system)
• Tracking advanced courses
• (preparation for college)
• Drop-outs
• More practical subjects? More discipline?
•  

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High school

• Quality of US high schools
• - Individualism!
• - Huge local/ social variations
• - "Honor roll vs. functional illiteracy
• Private high schools
• The role of sports

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Preparing for College

• Grades / GPA
• SAT tests
• Entrance requirements
• Recommendations
• Application letter/essay
• Visiting campuses with parents
• Interviews
• "Well-rounded students"

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Higher Education in the USA Colleges and
Universities

• A. Undergraduate studies
• 2-year college (AA/ AS)
• 4-year Bachelor's degree B.A./ B.S./ B.B.A.
• F, S, J and S years. Grades (BrE marks)
• B. Graduate studies 
• Master's degree (1-2 years), M.A./ M.S./
  M.B.A.
• Professional degrees medical/ law
  
• Ph.D./ doctorate degree (3 years)

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Colleges and Universities

• Broad knowledge (Liberal Arts) vs. specialization
  (as in Europe)
• Majors and minors
• Public and private colleges/universities
•   Advantages and disadvantages?
• State universities
• The Ivy League

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Colleges and Universities

• The wide range of subjects/ choices
• Continuous assessment (constant pressure)
• Evaluation of in-class participation
• Competitive atmosphere
• Papers and mid-terms
• Summer school

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Colleges and Universities

• 15 of the worlds top universities are in the USA
• The wide range of quality from university to
  university The academic levels vary enormously
• A lack of academic atmosphere at some
  institutions emphasis on social life

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Campus Life

• Umbrella universities
• Living on campus a mini community
• Fraternities and sororities
• College athletics
• Social life

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Tuition Costs

• State universities
• In-state and out-ofstate tuition
• Private universities
• In addition Room and board, books

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Student Financing

• Parents
• Scholarships/ grants
• Federal grants
• Need-based scholarships
• Performance-based scholarships
• Athletic scholarships
• Student loans
• On-campus jobs, for instance T.A.
• Off-campus part-time jobs

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Controversial Issues in American Education

• Expectations - and disappointments
• Current trends and policy debates
• Too much testing?
• Evaluation of teacher quality
• Sub-standard schools may lose funding
• Vouchers for students to choose schools
• Does competition improve quality?

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Thank You