As many are aware, our current educational system, once elite, is now sub-par and is not accomodating our new society. We are falling behind foreign countries academically which in return effects the productivity and advancement of our nation. To revamp the employment system and bring jobs back to America, we must better educate our children and provide each child with the highest quality of education. The question at hand here is how do we go about this, and what reprecussions will be felt, either positive or negative, from this action? Do we mandate that all students complete a GED, and create a law to forbid students from dropping out of high school? Do we put restrictions on American-based businesses that deny American students over foreign employment. The United States is losing in the global academic race, and we must address this issue immediately, for if not our society will greatly suffer.
When I wrote a paper on this topic for my AP English class, I proposed we establish a Federal law stating that all high school students must abide by the following guidelines:
1) They will not be allowed to drop out of high school with court approval or pending imprisonment. If they are imprisoned, then it is the state's obligation to ensure that the individual completes his/her General Education Degree while incarcerated.
2) Students must take at least three years of a foreign language. This will make them better qualified for the global economy and job market.
3) All students must complete their high school diploma or General Education Degree before they are allowed to leave the institution.
4) States must set up math, science, and technology academies in their school systems, to assist students with career aspirations in those fields, and to better the students' chances of being accepted to elite post-secondary schools.
You can force students to complete high school, but that still does not mean they will be willing to gain a good education or even care. One radical idea that could work for America is the getting rid of the Department of Education and stopping the public education system. What if we no longer had citizens pay great amounts of money to have their children gain a mediocre education when private education businesses and perochial schools would be more than willing to take on the task. Imagine what kind of business that would supply to our economy and students would receive the option to choose their school according to how much they're willing to pay. this also takes out the corrupt teacher's union that are draining money from budgets that should be going towards school supplies and materials.
Government has no other end, but the preservation of property. - John Locke
Though that is an interesting idea, and could possibly solve the problem, right now it is not possible. With a pending global recession and money disappearing from people's savings, the will to move towards a privately educated system would be low, unfortunately.
"Remember, Tomorrow is promised to no one." Walter Payton
Would this law only account for students under the age of eighteen?
Second america's college education is absolutely superior compared any otther country's universities.
Third you must consider when being compared to world's education the amount of students participating. In most countries in Europe only about 30%( A levels) of the students are actually taking these tests to rank schools international. These 30% are all college bound.
As referring to other nation's curriculum, I was speaking on the difference in their classes and how advanced they are in correlation with the changing global society.
This law would only hold students until they turn 18, for then they are a legal adult and can make their own decisions. With that said, this program would raise the standard of requirements for a job significantly. Job owners would expect workers to have their GED or diploma at the least, and with the raised expectations, it is my hope that students would continue the program following their eighteenth birthday.
"Remember, Tomorrow is promised to no one." Walter Payton
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So, you're removing the possibility of teens working? If all jobs expect a high school diploma or GED (and many already do), those jobs that rely on high school labor would be radically changed. And more education means higher pay, which isn't something we need right now. Yes, I think everyone deserves a proper education, but we do need people at the bottom of the pile as well.
~C
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Do you mean, to fill in the jobs no one with a proper education wishes to do?
http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm
Essentially, yes. Though I'm sure some people with an education would wish to do those jobs as well, however scarce they may be.
~C
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