The State of Education Today

Is America's education lacking? UNICEF, as recently as 2002 did a comparison on education that included 24 nations. The U.S. was 18th on this list. Only 40 years ago, the U.S. was ranked number one in graduation rates. Today they are 19th. Other countries have improved in math skills while the 4th grade levels in mathematics in the U.S. have been at the same level since 1995.

Science is another area the U.S. always excelled in when compared to other countries. Why are the education standards becoming lower? One reason has been linked to the "No Child Left Behind" law. Because the law was compulsory when it came to testing students on math and ready, some school devoted more time to these subjects by dropping courses in science. It has been suggested that students who do not take science when they
are in the lower grades are not as apt to take it when reaching the high school level. In addition, those who have an interest in this field and would like to take science in a higher grade may be at a disadvantage. The percentages show approximately 40% of science teachers do not have a minor or a major in this field. Almost half of math teachers also lack the degrees. The U.S. is faring well at the elementary level but as the students progress to middle and high school, they are falling behind the rest of the world.

What can be done about this problem? Is it the values of today's society of that is causing this decline? Are the standards of young people extremely different from what they were a few years ago? The youth of today will ultimately end up as the leaders tomorrow so the education they receive now will be essential to the growth of the U.S. and should be as knowledgeable and educated as possible.