U.S. education and communities

Kathmandu, Nepal, November 11 — In the United States, the educational system is highly organized, respected and therefore more influenced by educated people in small communities. This means that school districts have lots of influence on what is taught in U.S. secondary schools. In parts of the United States, but particularly in states like Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arizona and Iowa, most adults believe, more or less, in the literal interpretation of the Bible, just as most of their forefathers did. They teach it in the churches and Sunday schools. They see the public secondary school as a tool to support their children’s education of Biblical beliefs.

Fact: Over the last 35 years, U.S. 8th graders and high school students scored average or above average in math and science on international tests.

Math and science education in U.S. colleges is good. Having taken hundreds of courses in a variety of colleges ranging from community colleges to Ivy League graduate schools, I could count on having good teachers. The education becomes progressively better. I think, because of increasing achievement in math and science in high school and college, U.S. competitiveness in the global economy will progress.

"I don't countenance more administrative burdens on high school teachers, which detract from teaching, but I think that the standardization of curricula is beneficial to U.S. high school teaching. Theretofore, teachers taught what they wanted, when they wanted, if they wanted. The standardized tests bring focus to the math and science curricula and promote higher teaching ability in high school teaching and administration and comparisons of teaching quality can be made. This system is called competition and accountability. I like that because it has improved the quality of high school education," says one educator, Mr. Pieniaszek.

He further argued, "The United States makes up in quality; that is, given a large population, it pushes 50% of the high school students into college and a few exceptional students become high achievers."

On the other hand, schooling in many underdeveloped countries is becoming better and the students in those countries will become better scientists, engineers, programmers and mathematicians. Education in most underdeveloped countries is also not bad. I think that if the current U.S. funding to improve the quality of U.S. education continues, then U.S. education standards will further increase.

Pieniaszek told me, "Your father and mother must regard your education as a high priority to give you a good education and Internet access, Kamala. Although it is an additional expense, it is an extremely worthwhile educational tool. You can learn about every subject through school. However, I find that books are necessary to supplement the Internet at present, because they cover each subject more thoroughly. However, some day, books will be obsolete as the Internet becomes more thorough and as students around the world have computers and Internet access."

As in the past, children are easily educated by their parents and neighbors in the United States. Pieniaszek said, "That's a hereditary survival skill, i.e., think and do like the people around you and your chances are better of maintaining and spreading the effects of education. If the parents are educated, usually their kids are likewise education, especially if the educators come from the same community and share the same beliefs. Then there are the schools that teach math and science and the humanities while the kids are young. It is an impressive system. However, in the United States, the schools have money and they are organized. They have determined that the kids believe in getting a high school and college education. It's a good opportunity for parents and leaders.”