"A Nation at Risk"

1980 to 2000 Bottom Line

The United States used to be the top economy industries country. However, the US started to lack in the business in the economy. Great Britain and Germany have been competitive with skilled experts and business success than the US. In 1980 to 1990 American public school where ask to complete in a business driven. They involve American public school with business involvement in helping improve the American economy. However, the American public school was during poor during that time. Politics and press started to American public schools a learning crisis making us rethink about our education system. President Reagan during the time titled “A Nation At Risk” commission by the US Dept of Education. He mentions during the meeting that “ the poor quality of American schools posed a threat to the welfare of the country”(Streep, M. page 185 ). They felt with the poor quality of American school they will cause an effect on future American workers to keep up with the competition.

With the commotion about the school system and my child getting the right education. In East Harlem education leaders wanted teachers to create smaller class size. At first, the teachers thought the education board was kidding about the small class size. They had produced about 20 schools in one building that have different teaching. The results that if the schools do good they will be a fund, but if the school does poor in the NYC they will be shut down. If the school do excellent, they will be offer funding and offer programs in art, sciences, and mathematics. However, the voucher program came in a place where students of low-income can attend private schools. The vouchers supporters believe that with students going to private school the competition will force the public school to improve for more funding. Now with this opportunity, low-income students have the same opportunities to go to school with high/wealthy income students.

Wisconsin was the first state ever to pass the voucher legislation. The voucher serves low income African American, Hispanic and poor white kids in the inner city of Milwaukee. With the coupons helping students go to private school to have a better education. Public schools in the urban area in Wisconsin have been offering small class size in elementary school, whose students graduated from high school at double standard rate for the city. Wisconsin study has shown that smaller class size would improve student learning. However, with the vouchers it not helping to improve public schools in the Wisconsin area.

After that other programs that come up to help improve the education for American schools like the EAI and charter schools. EAl was a program that allows public schools and help them to receive more government funding. The program supports public schools to improve test scores and remove teachers who did not have the proper education. However, they had cut back in music and art, and special education serves in half.  That was not a good thing taking out the creativity in school and cutting half on special education for students who need it the most. With the Charter school, they were another part of EAI program because they work together. Charter school where like a private school but have different teaching.

Overall American education has grown over the years from providing, equal education and rights. The school system was a big part of American History. The education system now teaches us education to help children to have a brighter future for themselves.

Reference

Streep, M. Tyack, D. B., Bernard, S. C., Mondale, S., & Patton, S. B. (2001). School: The Story of American Public Education. Boston: Beacon Press.