Introduction
Education in the United States has undergone numerous changes since the time of transformation. A comparative analysis between education in the past and the modern dispensation paints a different picture concerning education. The documentary, Two Million Minutes, painted a picture of what education program looks like in the United States. Students basically have a time frame over which they are expected to operate so as to ensure that they are able to meet the education objectives.
My experience is that education in America is based on a tight schedule that does not allow the students to venture into other programs that could be beneficial. In the movie, two million minutes, the film indicate that the educational program is timed to the extent that in the event that one misses a single program, it is considered that one has missed an important educational step. There are other activities that are quite able to supplement education. Due to the time constraints, one may not be able to venture into sports and other profitable activities (Graft, 383). A proper education system should be able to give some allowance over which someone can undertake some duties that are deemed critical. In case, the system is so rigid and inflexible to the extent that one is not able to engage in other issues that may be deemed crucial to the development of a student.
On the other hand, my experience is that America’s education does not consider parents as important pillars in the education system. Education in America has changed because parenting and motivation from family members remains a challenge. Case in point is that parents today do not help encourage their children to work hard in school. In particular, parents have taken a back seat and have left all the duties to the schools in terms of building the skills of the students. It is critical that parents play a role in their respective capacities in order to ensure that the children are able to do well in school. Parents do not make inquiries based on what the students learn from school. Since the students do not have a parental follow up system, they are not able to be accountable for their actions either in school or at home (Graft, 384). The tendency is not helpful in making a teenager take education seriously.
My impression about education in America is that the cost of education in America has become so high to the extent of doing some courses is nothing, but a luxury (Ungar, 191). The tuition fee for high school, college and even the university has skyrocketed to a large extent. In effect, it has become impossible for some students to partake of the courses of their choice. In times past, the cost of education was relatively affordable to the extent that one could be able to take a course that best fits the ability of the individual (Ungar, 194).
In other places, the art subjects are affordable to a number of students. However, in America, arts courses have become very expensive to the extent that only the privileged are able to engage in such cases. Many students have been forced to take up courses that are affordable. In a real sense, students are not able to take the courses they derive satisfaction. To this end, one could easily state that education in the United States has become a luxury meant for the elite class. Students who come from poor backgrounds find it difficult to take up courses that are marketable.
Secondary schools in other locations are very keen on enhancing student’s education, especially in the key subjects. Courses such as mathematics and science are some of the most marketable. The film, Two Million Minutes, indicated that students in the United States are not very good in the two subjects (Raney and Heeter). Some do not just take up the two subjects for the simple reason that the two units are difficult to handle. Education stakeholders have failed to some extent by not motivating the students to take up the courses. The resultant effect has been that high school students are not able to take advantage of the two courses so as to remain relevant in a wide range of career fields.
The mindset of the students is skewed to the extent that they are not able to take up the sciences and the mathematics units. The teachers and the education stakeholders have not been very proactive in telling the students the importance of taking the two courses. The parents are also partly to blame for not motivation their children to take up the units that would otherwise prove to be of critical importance.
What I need from the education system is that my ability may be enhanced to the levels where I become a better person in the society. The desire is to have a career that is satisfying through and an elaborate education system. In times past, one was sure that after education, an individual was assured of a job. Today, things have changed to the extent that there is no guarantee of getting a job after school. It has to a greater extent discouraged those who would otherwise want to go into education for the sake of securing a career for themselves (Raney and Heeter). Many students are not able to focus as they think of the American education as a waste of time and resources. Education is an investment.
For every investment, one expects to get some returns at the end of the day. In the case of education, it is expected after education, one expects to get educated so as to secure a job so as to get some incoming. Securing a career is the only sure way through which one is able to get returns from investment. A number of dynamics have made it impossible for people to get employment immediately after school (Graft, 387). Case in point is that issues such recessions, cutting on spending and managing the wage bill of particular institutions have made it impossible for people to realize the essence of employment. In this case, education in America has to some extent lost its essence.
Conclusion
There are a number of issues that make education to be rigid and less accommodating in the United States. Students find it hard to cope, as there is no motivation either from school or home. Consequently, education in America has become expensive to the extent that not many can be able to afford. Education has become a luxury to some extent. Even there are some detrimental issues that affect the education system in America; there are some notable positives that can be named.
Works Cited:
Graft, Gerald. Hidden Intellectualism. 2nd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton. 2010.
Print.
Raney Adam and Heeter Chad. Two Million Minutes. Broken Pencil Productions. 2007. DVD.
Ungar, Sanford J. The New Liberal Arts. 2nd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton.2012. Pages: 190-196.
Print.
