Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown.

Claude Bernard

The basis for any culture and society is its educational system. It is how the next generation will try and learn from the previous generation’s mistakes and create something better.

On that note, the United States is ranked 23rd in the world in education. This ranking should be at least a little concerning to those that live in the United States, for the sake of the country’s future. Here is the list of the countries ranked ahead of the USA, based on a total of a math, reading, and science score:

1. China
2. Finland
3. Singapore
4. Japan
5. Canada
6. New Zealand
7. Taiwan
8. The Netherlands
9. Australia
10. Liechtenstein
11. Switzerland
12. Estonia
13. Germany
14. Belgium
15. Iceland
16. Poland
17. Norway
18. The United Kingdom
19. Denmark
20. Slovenia
21. Ireland
22. France

What makes the United States’ education system so poor, and how can it be improved? We can certainly look to other parts of the world to see what they have done correctly, and determine whether or not it’s feasible to incorporate that aspect into the US system.

An Overview of the US Education System

In a quick overview, the American education system:

Students are hit year after year with standardized tests in order to stay “on track” to graduate high school. The ones who may not perform as well in standardized tests (who may be artistically successful) are treated like they need extra motivation to get into STEM. Homeschooled kids are looked down upon from kids who went through the public school system, even though kids who were homeschooled are 8% more likely to graduate college. I intentionally avoided the social aspects of American schools, but this is how I see it from an educational perspective.

Learning From Japan

Japan has a literacy rate of 100%, compared to the US rate of 86% (125th in the world). What is said to Japanese students is that if you cannot teach the material you haven’t learned it, and the comprehensive methods have led to better retention of material compared to the lecture-style method in United States primary schools. Japanese kids tend to learn more at home with camps or projects.

The US System: What To Fix

What is wrong with the current US school system?

• It doesn’t give students much useful information that they can apply to real life, such as learning the tax code.
• Students don’t take school seriously, possibly due to a lack of respect of authority.

So.. the best educational reform the United States could have would be solving its current problems while keeping what it’s doing correctly (genius, right?).

The US System: My Proposed Solution

In order to fix this system, it would have to include the solutions to the problems I listed above, which would be,

• Giving the students applicable knowledge through curriculum that stresses the preparation for adult life and college.
• Putting students with educators that they respect, so that they are more likely to want to learn the information.

Primary School: Ages 5-10

Students will be taught basic skills that they may not have learned at home. This will include:

• Math skills preceding advanced algebra
• How to cooperate with other students
• How to properly perform basic exercises, average BMI required to graduate (sex-specific)
• How to read small chapter books (by age 10)
• An introduction to the scientific method, including a science fair project completed entirely in the classroom
• An introduction to fine arts

All of those listed would be considered graduation requirements to move onto middle school, because children could thrive both in and outside of school (clubs, sports) and have a higher self-regard.

Middle School: Ages 11-14

Middle school is the time where most students will be hitting puberty and will have a largely different view of the world compared to years past. Therefore, the graduation requirements will be different than elementary school,

• Understanding of advanced algebra, and geometry only for advanced students
• Teaching of sex-specific anatomy and how to understand their body changes
• Completion credit for class explaining the effects of sex and drugs on the body
• How to read books with more depth
• Completion credit for one class introducing the basics to biology and chemistry
• Continuation of physical activities, average BMI required to graduate (sex-specific)

These are all graduation requirements for middle school, and they’re important in that it will attempt to prevent a number of students from experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts in these years, as statistics show is relevant.

High School: Age 15-18

This section could arguably be the most important, as in this stage of human development there is a significant overlap in physical and mental capabilites between students and adults. High school should be treated like a pre-adult school. Here are my proposed requirements:

• Continued advancement in math and reading skills, should be ready for college whether the student is attending college or not
• Four “life credits”, explained below this list*
• Completion credits in biology, chemistry, and anatomy; physics is also suggested.
• Completion credit on another class on the effects of sex and drugs
• Maintaining of average sex-specific BMI

Life Credits

These four courses would theoretically be taken over four years, one every year. These are courses that students of today are saying that this is what they need for adult life. All of the following classes have the option to be taught by the student’s parents whether they are considered a homeschooled student or not.

1. Manners and Etiquette
2. Basic Economics and How to File Taxes
3. Conversational Skills, Interview Practice
4. Life and Career Planning

Year 1: Manners and Etiquette; Students will learn how to behave properly in a formal setting. In order to get this credit, the student will have to create a presentation that demonstrates etiquette for a setting selected by the teacher.

Year 2: Basic Economics and How To File Taxes; This credit will be earned similarly to regular high school classes. The first semester will be dedicated to the fundamentals of economics, while the second semester will be dedicated solely to learning how to file taxes on their own.

Year 3: Conversation Skills and Interview Practice; The credit will be earned by having a one-on-one interview with the instructor and will be graded on a pass/fail scale.

Year 4: Life and Career Planning; This will be dedicated to helping students find what they might want to do in college and in their career. This would be done by finding volunteer opportunities in the area to spark new interests. Students will leave the class with multiple plans for college and career.

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Please like and follow if you enjoyed what you read! If you aren’t following the blog yet, the option is right below this post and also at the top of each page, please feel free to comment on what you think of my ideas and leave your own ideas of how you think the educational system can be fixed.

Take care of yourself and someone else,

-Brandon