America's Dated Education System and Its Oldfashioned Methods

The American teaching method is from a time before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Still teachers use methods from the Industrial Revolution to strip children of their creativity. Schools in America should teach kids how to problem solve and communicate their ideas, not just sit them down and give them busy work. Studies have shown that the American education system is flawed, and how the Finnish and Japanese education systems are vastly superior, the United States should integrate parts of their education system in American schools. The American school system has been slow to adapt since its introduction in 1837.

The creation of the American school system credited to Horace Mann who was born in 1796. “When Horace became Secretary of Education in Massachusetts in 1837, he set forth his vision for a system of professional teachers who would teach students an organized curriculum of basic content”(PBS). Early American schools were focused on mathematics, writing, and reading, but these subjects were taught in a manner that closely resembles the modern American classroom. The American classroom today is still based on the Industrial Age need of obedient factory workers. This results in high school graduates not having the skills that they need in the real world. Even though the United States needs to update their education system, they have been slow to adapt. The last time that the United States changed their education system was in 1954, when high school was made compulsory. Today children and teens alike are taught with the values of the Industrial Age, and they lack the creative thinking and problem solving that is required in the modern, and rapidly changing world. Finland and Japan both have adapted their education systems with the changing times, and currently have the best schools internationally.

In 1993, researchers set out to do something that was never done before. They would film eighth-grade math classes from the United States. According to Hanford, The video study was part of a larger research project called the Third International Mathematics and Science Study and was funded largely by the U.S. government, the goal was to see how American students were doing in math and science compared to students in 40 other countries (Hanford). The results showed that American students were behind their competitors in foriegn countries. Japan, however, was scoring remarkably well on the international comparisons in science and math.

The research group then sent a videographer to film a random array of science and math classes in Japan. The study showed that the American method of education does not require students to think critically and problem solve. In the American classrooms, if students began to struggle with a math problem, an American math teacher would intervene and help the students with the problem and demonstrate how to find the solution. In Japan, if students were struggling with a math problem, the teacher would allow the students to struggle and discover the solution by working together. Then the students would present their methods to solve the problem to the class, and the teacher would discuss the mathematics behind the equation. Since the students are given time to think and discover the solution, the memorization is more authentic than memorization in United States. Another country, Finland, has evolved its school system with the changing world, and they have the world's best education system. The Finnish education system is based upon hands on learning and less homework. For example, A first grade teacher in Finland has homemade math cards that have tasks for the children to complete such as finding 50 acorns and lay them in groups of ten, or to find a stick as large as your foot. These tasks are a basic example of hands on learning that are fun for the children and also teach them the basics of math. Finnish students spend less time in school than American students, and the Finnish students score 17.5 percentage points higher than American students on international comparisons. Finnish teachers also spend less time in school than American teachers, the Finnish teachers use the extra time to evaluate students and build curriculum. Integrating these teaching methods would greatly benefit the United States education system.

The American teaching methods are inadequate in today's modern world. Integrating the teaching methods of Japan and Finland would immensely improve the United States’ education system. The less structured and hands on learning styles of the Japanese and Finnish education system would allow American students to learn more communication skills. Students would also develop better team cooperation and public speaking skills. These skills are important in the modern workplace, which requires employees to communicate ideas, work as teams and problem solve when situations arise. These skills are critical to employers and are vital for a functioning company. Schools in America should teach kids how to problem solve and communicate their ideas, not just sit them down and show them the solution. The United States may be flawed, but the Finnish and Japanese education systems are the best in the world, the United States should integrate parts of their education system to improve education in the US. The American teaching method is from a time before Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb. Still teachers use methods from the Industrial Revolution to strip children of their creativity. Write an email to your governor about the ineffective teaching methods in the American school system.