American Education System Research Proposal Introduction

American Education System Research Proposal
Introduction
Nowadays, education plays increasingly more important role in the life of society, at large, and each individual, in particular. Moreover, the level of development of education indicates at the general level of the development of the country and its people that makes education one of the strategic issues and primary concern of any nation, including American. However, the situation in American education, in actuality, turns to be far from perfect and modern system is often criticized. It is worthy of mention that modern public schools are considered to be particularly ineffective and it is argued that they are in decline that, to a significant extent, is true.
At the same time, it is extremely important to be thoroughly analyze the current situation and reveal problems that exist in this system though one of the main problems is evident. This is the problem of a substantial gap between academic achievements of white and non-white students. Unquestionably, public schools have a bunch of problems that need immediate solutions but it is impossible to find out any effective solution of any problem without the analysis of its causes.
This is why, it is necessary to briefly analyze the current situation, find out main problems and its causes that will help find possible solutions of the current problems among which the growing gap between white and non-white students remains probably the most significant.
The current situation in public schools
On analyzing the current situation in the American education, namely in public schools, it is necessary to underline that in recent years quite disturbing trends have appeared. To put it more precisely, the situation in public schools is getting to be worse and the deterioration is so significant that many specialists (Ballenger 1999, Hirsch 2005) indicate at the serious crisis within the existing system of public schools in American educational system.
Nonetheless, it is worthy of mention that the achievement gap between non-white and white students, which narrowed for three decades up until the late years of 1980s, the period in which school segregation gradually decreased, started to widen once more in the early 1990s when the federal courts began the process of re-segregation by dismantling the mandates of the Brown decision (Kozol 2005).

In such a way, the existing problem of the growing gap in academic achievement between non-white and white students is basically predetermined by the poor socio-economic position of families of non-white students, poor health services, and growing re-segregation of public schools, especially in large cities where the share of non-white students is unjustly large that naturally leads to the lack of equal opportunities for non-white students to receive the education of the same quality as white students do.

Basically, the current situation seems to be quite difficult and the crisis in public schools is really serious but it does not necessarily mean that the situation is irreversible and cannot be improved. In fact, it is necessary to start changes immediately in order to make them more effective. First of all, it is necessary to pay a particular attention to funding public schools which should be much better than it is now. Moreover, the increase of funding should be real but not nominal since even nowadays New York City has not yet caught up to where its wealthiest suburbs were a quarter-century ago. And it is necessary to remember that the privileged schools with white majority keep progressing and their funding is still increasing. As a result, public schools with non-white majority do not receive sufficient funding while they need extra-financial support because of the vital needs of students which are deprived of elementary social and health services.

By the way, the development of an effective health system within public schools which could assist children from the most deprived classes to receive essential medical help. Otherwise, the gap between rich and healthy, on the one hand, and poor and ill, on the other hand, will grow further that will inevitably affect the growing achievement gaps between students representing different social classes and ethnic groups.

At the same time, teachers should be also conscious of their authority and high responsibility and perfectly understand the needs of their students. In this respect, the knowledge of their socio-cultural background is of a paramount importance. Practically, it means that teachers should pay a particular attention to the students’ social and cultural environment and possibly integrate in their community. For instance, teachers could integrate themselves into students’ communities through visits to youths’ homes, religious centers, and community organizations (Monro 2006). Anyway, the knowledge of students cultural background will help teachers to celebrate rather than penalize students’ heritage that can increase their academic achievements.

Furthermore, it is necessary to stop the re-segregation of public school and possibly enlarge the representation of white students in public schools, especially in large cities. In such a way, the tolerance of students will grow along with the development of their mutual understanding and cooperation that can positively affect the academic results of the learning process.

Also, it is important to improve the currently existing system of tests and one of the major tasks of the test-developers is to integrate different subjects in tests in order to stimulate the development of broader knowledge of students. In this respect, it is possible to recommend the development of content tests which would be specifically tied to the knowledge goals of education in different areas, such as literature, history, art, etc. Anyway, it is obvious that breadth of knowedge is the single factor within human control that contributes most to academic achievement and general cognitive competence (Hirsch 2007).

Finally, it is necessary to develop students’ self-esteem and the ability to resist to the oppressing influences from outside as well as develop the respect to their culture and identity.

Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that at the present moment the American system education face a great challenge which is hidden in the profound crisis of modern public schools. Basically, this crisis leading to the growing achievement gaps between white and non-white students can have really disastrous consequences because it provokes the growth of interracial tension and social inequality. In fact, many public schools in large cities of America are getting t be re-segregated transforming in a kind of ghetto that threatens to the future of American state and democracy at large because the current lack of equal opportunities for all citizens resulting in the growing gap in academic achievements can lead to the social outburst and open protest against the totally discriminating system that exists in American education at the present moment.