A STUDENT'S THOUGHTS ON AMERICAN EDUCATION
Editor's Note: In his piece, Jackson C. ('15) responds to an article written in the New York Times and critiques the American school system. He compares his unique experience at an elite private school to that of the majority of American students, who attend public school. The article he is responding to can be found here.
Growing up in New York and being a cog in the elite private school system, we are at a constant disconnect with the rest of America. Let’s be real, America is bad at math and science. In many places, math and science are burdens, especially on tight budgets. Schools have eliminated tons of programs to keep math and science programs going, but what is the point if the students are not interested? No one says that everyone has to like math, but look at the job market. To get a job without graduate school, good luck at being an English major when most of the “good” jobs are located in STEM industries. By good, I mean higher paying than working retail. Math and science do not have to be your calling, but all students need basic math skills that they are not getting.
At the same time, I feel a constant stigma about math and science. So many times I have heard things along the lines of “who cares about math?” or, “who needs science in the real world? I only need to be good at writing.” Not only is there a stigma about being smart and working hard in many schools, it is worse to be good at math and science. This makes me incredibly annoyed, as it seems that thousands of students don’t care about their futures and are confusing school with golf, where a 70 is considered great. Schools have to do more to get rid the stigma of doing well and actually instill some drive in America’s students.
What is even worse, however, is that schools cannot support the smartest students, as many are simply trying to play catch-up with the less intelligent students who have fallen through the cracks. Tight budgets have eliminated advanced classes and many places never had them to begin with. Not only are people falling behind, many others are being constrained by the system. What is even worse, those being held back are those that actually like math and science. I know how they feel. I went to a middle school where the philosophy did not include advanced classes. I always felt held back, and the students not as good at math felt like they were drowning. I am so grateful for the opportunities provided to me in high school where I can really thrive in math and science. If only all schools could provide the proper challenge for those who like math and science, like me.
At the same time, I feel a constant stigma about math and science. So many times I have heard things along the lines of “who cares about math?” or, “who needs science in the real world? I only need to be good at writing.” Not only is there a stigma about being smart and working hard in many schools, it is worse to be good at math and science. This makes me incredibly annoyed, as it seems that thousands of students don’t care about their futures and are confusing school with golf, where a 70 is considered great. Schools have to do more to get rid the stigma of doing well and actually instill some drive in America’s students.
What is even worse, however, is that schools cannot support the smartest students, as many are simply trying to play catch-up with the less intelligent students who have fallen through the cracks. Tight budgets have eliminated advanced classes and many places never had them to begin with. Not only are people falling behind, many others are being constrained by the system. What is even worse, those being held back are those that actually like math and science. I know how they feel. I went to a middle school where the philosophy did not include advanced classes. I always felt held back, and the students not as good at math felt like they were drowning. I am so grateful for the opportunities provided to me in high school where I can really thrive in math and science. If only all schools could provide the proper challenge for those who like math and science, like me.
