Education is an important tool in modern society. A good education system in a country forms the basis of strong theoretical and practical values that are instilled into learners. The education system must be aligned in a manner that teachers and students have favorable environments and a well defined curriculum to learn and teach. In the U.S currently, the state of education is in a precarious state. It has been said often that the system of education needs change but nothing much has been done. The education system is in dire need of teacher education reforms. Also in need of reforms are the student outcomes and education based standards. Reforms in education can build strong foundations, practices and theories guiding different sections of education, specifically special, general and bilingual education.
American education, especially in urban areas, faces a crisis because of poor standards. The people who are mostly affected by this situation are colored communities and poor whites. This crisis comes in the form of the scope of education that these students are taught. The children are taught what does not help personal development. They also do not get sufficient exposure to the world. Their curriculum is simply shallow. These students cannot be compared to those in middle and upper class of white communities. They are taken through disengaged learning processes and some even end up dropping out of school.
All these issues of concern are because education boards, and other authorities are not doing much to raise education standards. In some states, Boards of educations are no longer responsible for the state of education in their schools. For instance, boards that oversaw education in public schools in New York City were dismantled in 2002. State and national leaders no longer take the quality of education seriously. The fact that they passed laws that could dismantle boards that oversee the daily operations and administration in public schools proves it all. The teachers and school administrators have been left helpless in ensuring students access proper education.
The confusion caused by disinterested leaders in the country towards education leads to poor teacher preparation. Teachers are not getting sufficient training. This lowers academic standards because the teachers lack the expertise to deliver quality education in general, bilingual and special education. The student outcomes in terms of performance and development have deteriorated significantly. Students with special needs and those of bilingual education do not have enough trained teachers. The education system does not have a substantial foundation to raise the practical and theoretical standards of student education.
The boards of education in public schools helped improve teacher experience and quality of education students got. The boards initiated projects that were in the interest of society. Both teachers and students benefitted. The boards had a wide responsibility that included; managing finances through a finance manager. These ensured schools did not lack funds to run academic and co curricular projects. There were field coordinators whose work was to inspect academic institutions to ensure schools are run prudently. They also ensure there is enough teachers and student performance is satisfactory. There was also training and human resource which took charge of all workers in the education institutions in the society. Finally, the board oversaw school management. They would assess school performance according to departments.
However, with the dissolution of such boards, education standards have waned both for teachers and students. The changes have created an inefficient system of public education. The foundations of educations have become weak; students in special, bilingual and general education systems are getting substandard education. The teachers do not get sufficient training making the situation alarming. Teacher and student education must be reviewed urgently to rescue a deteriorating education system.
Works Cited
Gaines, Joseph H and Ed D. "Teacher education in search of reason." Gaines, Joseph H and Ed D. Foundations, Theory and Practice of Bilingual General and Special education and Multicultural Perspectives in Education. New york: Sage, 2010. 8.
