The American School System: International Goal or Fail?
The American school system’s ways have always been up for debate, especially when compared to other countries. One of the biggest differences is the wide open path U.S. students take through school. From kindergarten to high school, students get to try out different subjects before deciding on a career or college. This is great for students who don’t know what they want to do. However, it also means they don’t get to divulge fully into a specific subject until college where specialization happens.
In contrast, many countries like Germany or Japan have a more structured and focused approach. Students in these systems are pushed into academic or vocational paths earlier, sometimes by their early teens. This helps them prepare for specific careers or higher education, but also locks them into a path at a young age with less room for exploration or change of direction.
One of the biggest issues in the U.S. is the emphasis on standardized testing. Schools spend a lot of time preparing students for tests like the SAT, state exams, and college entrance tests. This creates a narrow focus on test scores rather than deeper learning. In other countries like Finland, testing plays a smaller role, so teachers can focus on their students’ critical thinking, creativity, and practical knowledge.
While the American system has flexibility and second chances through community colleges or other pathways, it also has lack of access and inequality issues. The high cost of higher education limits opportunities especially for students from lower income backgrounds. By looking at other global systems, the U.S. could benefit from adding more practical skills training and reducing its reliance on standardized tests while still keeping its openness to students changing paths later in life.
All in all, it can be said that the US has a good start with their school system, yet they still have a lot to learn and could take some examples from other, more developed countries. American schools should try to go more in depth, while still trying to keep their flexibility. The American school system should give students who are not interested in college more alternatives and should try to include more apprenticeships.
