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One could argue that America takes it's education very seriously and that there is a long history to support this claim. At the same time, America also loves capitalism, which often boils down to the needs and wants of the individual. When those two approaches are merged, one finds that in the modern age people may look at the education system as a sort of consumer products division of America. In other words, people are less concerned about what is best for the country. They are more concerned with what is best for them individually, even if it hurts others in the long run. This is not to say that people are out to hurt others, but there is a definitively short sighted approach to many things in America. This, among other things, are some of the issues affecting the educational system in America.

Labor

One issue that has arguably put a stranglehold one America is labor issues. Unions have infected many aspects of the American educational system. While they were a necessarily quantity at one point in history, they are now a point of contention that often slows down the educational process. Teachers, administrators, and union officials have created a giant bureaucratic battlefield that often seems more about defending turf than building curriculum and teaching students. There are many deserving teachers in America who benefit from the protection of the current labor system, but there are also teachers who would have been fired long ago if they had jobs in other industries.

Standards and freedom

Another challenge for the educational system is the establishment of outcomes and competencies. Each state has a different way of educating their students, and any attempt at national unification seems to be met with a variety of criticisms. People think that national standards are too unrealistic, poorly funded, or unfair to certain groups. While the ability to make state policy has been very helpful in some American situations, the presence of fifty different educational systems has proved to be a challenge when it comes to building a better America through it's "education system."

Change

Finally, there is the issue of growth and development. America, like many other nations, likes to do things as they have been done in the past. However, this has in some cases created a system that is too traditional to be effective. For example, the current educational calendar in America is built around an agricultural schedule that no longer applies to most of the country. While other parts of the world are learning throughout the summer, American kids are forgetting everything they have learned throughout the year so that they can start the new year farther behind. Granted, this doesn't apply to every student but it is one example of how the American educational system has trouble changing over time.

The American educational system has done many great things throughout the history of the country. While there are many challenges and difficulties to overcome, there is always hope that things can improve. America has many elements of freedom that allow organizations to change over time. People who believe in the future of America will continue to work on the educational system and hopefully some of these issues will be addressed more effectively in the future.

Learn more about this author, Todd Pheifer.
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