The document provides a comprehensive overview of the American public school system from its historical roots to the modern-day structure and challenges. It covers the traditional K-12 education framework, teacher and student experiences, and alternative educational options, while also addressing contemporary social issues such as funding, curriculum disparities, and the challenges faced by non-English speaking students. Various aspects such as extracurricular activities, educational goals, and the evolution of educational practices are also discussed.

1. +
The American Education System
21 December 2011
Ariana Tobin: Fulbright English Fellow
Danielle Montagne: English Language Fellow

2. + Objective:
During today’s lecture, we will discuss:
 The American Public School System (K-12)
 [A Brief] History of Education in America
 The goals/learning objectives of Public Schools in America
 Traditional Structure/Variations in Public School Structures
 American Public Elementary, Middle and High School
 Teacher/Student Case Studies
 Alternative Education Options (K-12)
 Contemporary Social Issues in k-12 Education
 Follow up Discussion Questions & Student Questions

3. +
Warm Up Questions…
The American Public School System
 What do you know about the American Education system?
 Are there any stereotypes about American education or American
students that you know of?
 How/where have you learned information about the American School
system?
 How do you think American school system differs from the
Belorussian School system?
 How do you think the American School system is similar to the
Belorussia School system?

4. +
The American Public School
System (K-12)
History of the American Public School System
 The first American schools in the thirteen original colonies opened in
the 17th century.
 Established for wealthy families who could afford to send their
children to school.
 One room school houses would often serve primary, middle and high
school age students.
 For most families, literacy and mathematics education was done in the
homes—often by mothers –during America’s early history.
 Education for women, African Americans and non-English speaking
immigrants was limited or outlawed until the 20th century.

5. + History of the American Public School System
 After the American Revolution, an emphasis was put on
education:
 Especially true in the northern states, which rapidly
established public schools.
 By the year 1870, all states had free public elementary schools.
 Private academies flourished in the towns across the country, but
rural areas (where most people lived) had few schools before the
1880s.
 By 1900, the US population had one of the highest literacy in the
world.
 Education seen as necessary for developing intelligent American
citizens capable in participating in all social and political realms of
life.

6. +
Early American Schools…

7. +
Modern goals of the American Public School System
 Education is often seen as a means to deliver equality to all
American citizens.
 K-12 Education is compulsory for all American children.
 Education is mainly provided by the public sector and funded by
the federal, state and local governments.
 School curricula, funding, teaching, employment, and other policies
are set through locally elected school boards who have control over
a specified school district.
 The modern goals of the American education system is to develop:
 A well-rounded individual prepared with
 critical thinking skills
 problem solving skills
 creativity when approaching real life situations.

8. +
Traditional Structure of the American School
System (K-12)
 The American School system traditionally consists of:
 Pre-school (age 3-5) –not compulsory
 Primary School/Elementary School
 Kindergarten (age 5-6)
 Grades 1-6 (ages 6-12)
 Middle School
 Grades 7-8 (ages 12-14)
 High School
 Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)

9. +
K-12
Structures

10. +American Primary/Elementary Schools
 Public Elementary School teachers instruct between 20-30 students
of diverse learning needs.
 A typical classroom will include children with a range of learning needs
or abilities, from those identified as having special needs (special education) to
students non-native English speakers (ESL students).
 Each local school district gives each teacher a book to give to the students for
each subject, and brief overviews of what the teacher are expected to teach.
 Learning standards are identified for all areas of a curriculum by individual
States, including those for mathematics, social studies, science, physical
development, the fine arts, and reading.
 Elementary School teachers are trained with emphases on human cognitive and
psychological development and the principles of curriculum development and
instruction.
 Teachers typically earn either a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Early Childhood
and Elementary Education.
 Certification standards for teachers are determined by individual states.

11. +
Images of an American
Elementary School…

12. +

13. + Case Study: Typical Day of American Primary
School Teacher
 A typical teacher works 8 hours, 5 days a week, at the same
school. [September-June]
 Federal Holidays and Summer Vacations off from work.
 Primary school teachers traditionally teach the same group of students
(20-30 students) for the full day.
 Courses include: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies.
 Teachers often have one (40-45 minute) break or “preparation period”
during the day.
 Students receive classes from a different teacher—Music, Art, Gym
(sports), Drama, Chorus, etc.
 Teachers must have one lunch break (40-45 minute) during the day.
 Many teachers stay after school to participate in extracurricular
activities for students or provide additional teaching time.

14. +Case Study: Typical Day of American Primary
School Student
 School begins in early September through the end of June.
 Most students arrive to school by a big yellow school bus.
 Students generally attend all classes in the same classroom with the same
group of [diverse] students.
 Students are taught strategies of working independently, in groups and in
partners during the school day.
 Students usually have “recess” during the school day and often spend time
on a playground with their friends.
 Being sent to the “principals office” is seen as a major punishment.
 Elementary school students are sent home with 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours of
homework each night (depending on grade level).
 Extracurricular activities are popular for older elementary school

15. +
American Secondary Schools: Middle School
 Middle School include the grade levels intermediate between
elementary school and senior high school.
 "Middle school" usually includes seventh and eighth grades
 "Junior high" typically includes seventh through ninth grade.
 At this time, students are given more independence:
 Having different teachers for each subjects.
 Taking on more independent homework assignments and
projects.
 Moving to different classrooms for different subjects
 being allowed to choose some of their class subjects
(electives).

16. +
Images of an American Middle
School…

17. +

18. +
American Secondary Schools: Senior High School
 Senior High School is a school attended after middle school/
junior high school.
 The term “High school” is often used instead of senior high school
 High school usually runs either from 9th through 12th grade.
 The students in these grades are commonly referred to as:
 freshmen (grade 9)
 sophomores (grade 10)
 juniors (grade 11)
 seniors (grade 12).
 students take a broad variety of classes without special emphasis
in any particular subject

19. +
Images of an American High
School

20. +

21. +High School Curriculum
 Students take a broad variety of classes without special
emphasis in any particular subject.
 Curricula vary widely in quality and rigidity
 Some states consider 65 (on a 100-point scale) a passing grade,
while others consider it to be as low as 60 or as high as 75.
 Mandatory subjects are required in nearly all U.S. high schools:
 Science (3 years of biology, chemistry and physics)
 Mathematics (4 years of algebra, geometry, pre-calculus,
statistics, and calculus)
 English (4 years of literature, humanities, composition, etc.)
 Social sciences (3 years world and U.S. history, gov./economics)
 Physical education (4 years)
 Many states require a "health" course (anatomy, first aid,
sexuality, birth control)

22. + Students Choice: Elective Classes
 Computers:
 Word processing, programming, graphic design…
 Career and Technical Training:
 Business Marketing, health occupations, technology education,
publishing, journalism, public speaking, creative writing,
poetry…
 Performing Arts/Visual Arts:
 Choir, band, orchestra, drama, art, ceramics, photography,
dance…
 Foreign Languages:
 Spanish/French most common…
 Advanced Placement Courses (AP): College Credit Courses
 Sciences, History, Economics, Art, Etc…

23. +Extracurricular Activities in American Schools
 A major characteristic of American schools is the high priority
given to sports, clubs and activities by the community, the
parents, the schools and the students themselves.
 Extracurricular activities are educational activities not falling within
the scope of the regular curriculum but under the supervision of the
school.
 These activities can extend to large amounts of time outside the
normal school day and include:
 Sports Programs—Football, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming,
Wrestling, Cheerleading, Rowing, Dance, etc.
 Performing Arts—orchestra bands, jazz bands, marching bands,
choirs, school plays/drama clubs/musicals
 Debate teams, Student Government, Public Awareness
Organizations, Various Clubs (Poetry Club, Photography Club,
etc.)

24. +

25. + Social Life and School Related Activities
 A major characteristic of American schools is the rich social
events that are planned and organized by the high schools.
 Formal Dances
 Yearly Semiformal Dances
 Junior Prom
 Senior Prom/Senior Ball
 Homecoming Day and Parade
 Organized Parade
 Homecoming King and Queen elected by students
 Celebration at the school
 Sports Activities and related social events
 Football games
 Bonfires and Rallys
 Graduation Celebrations

26. +

27. + Study: Typical Day of American High School
Case
Teacher
 A typical teacher works 8 hours, 5 days a week, at the same
school. [September-June]
 Federal Holidays and Summer Vacations off from work.
 High school teachers teach the same subject to:
 6 groups of students (45-50 minute classes) each day OR
 3 groups of students (90 minutes) every other day
 Teaching specialty depends on teaching degree
 Teachers often have one “preparation period” (45 minutes) during the
day.
 Teachers must have one lunch break (40-45 minute) during the day.
 Many teachers stay after school to participate in extracurricular
activities for students or provide additional teaching time.

28. Case Study: Typical Day of American High School
+ Student
 School begins in early September through the end of June
 Some student arrive to school by school bus; many others drive.
 Students attend 4-8 classes each school day.
 Students must remain at school for the entire day—leaving for
lunch is not allowed.
 Students are taught strategies of working independently, in groups
and in partners during the school day.
 Students usually have “study hall” during the school day and to
prepare for classes, study for exams or meet with teachers.
 High school students are sent home with 2 to 3 hours of homework
each night (depending on grade/skill level).
 Many students stay after school to participate in sports, clubs and
other extracurricular activities.

29. +
Alternative forms of Education
 Home schooling
 In 2007, approximately 1.5 million children were home ]
schooled: 2.9% of all children.
 Often associated with religious groups.
 Private Schools/Private Academies
 Funded solely by student tuition.
 Offer more specialized courses.
 Parochial School
 Run by church organizations.
 Funded by student tuition and petitioner contributions.
 Charter School
 Funded by both private funds and public funds.
 Stricter control over enrollment—controversial.

30. + Modern Social Issues in American
Education
Educational issues in the United States center on curriculum,
funding, and control.
 Funding
 U.S. is tied for first place with Switzerland for annual spending per
student: two countries spending more than $11,000 USD
 U.S. public schools lag behind the schools of other developed
countries in the areas of reading, math, and science.
 No Child Left Behind Act– George W. Bush : Gives government
the right to withhold funding if it believes a school, district, or even
a state is improving standardized test scores.
 Tracking
 Dividing students into learning groups based on classifications of
“above average”, “average” or “below average”
 Separating ESL students and Special Education students from
mainstream classrooms.

31. +
Modern Social Issues in American
Education
 English in the Classroom
 Questions on how to best accommodate for non-English
speaking students and parent interest in foreign language
instruction.
 ESL programs vs. Bilingual programs
 Dual Language Programs
 Nationwide Education Content and Education Quality
 Different content, grade systems and quality across the nation
 Textbook Review and Adoption
 Evolution in Kansas
 Violence and Drug Use
 Preventing violence and drug abuse in schools
 Education regarding violence, sex and drug abuse

32. +
Questions or Comments?
 Please ask me any questions about today’s lecture topic, my
personal background or any other question you might have.
Contact Information
 Danielle Marie Montagne
 Email: d.m.montagne@gmail.com
 Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions, assistance
or guidance you need in any class.