Educational System

The Fundamentals The educational system has always been a topic to discuss. Whether for or against the argument, the educational system seems to be at the bottom of the nations priorities. Mainly the questions asked is where funding can come from, the participation needed, and the choices between educational systems. Since education is how a society must strive and expand in its knowledge and economy, the educational system for such should be at its forefront. Nevertheless, the educational system argument is one that seems to be overlooked and unnoticed. That is of course until now. In the opposition, some would argue that the education system does not pose a problem, suggesting that funding does not need to come from government and that we should spend more funds into law enforcement and military protection. They would argue that education for these individuals, such as military and police academies, does not come from our education fund. The opposition would discard the idea of participation needed from parents and loved ones and the emotional need for one to grow in an educational institute. This includes all camps and safety patrol that ensures children’s education beyond the classroom and the safety of children who do commute on foot. The opposing side would argue that there is no difference between educational systems and that all standards are the same. There is no difference between graduating from prestigious schools like Whitney or Woodcreek high, and graduating from a continuation school like Adelante high. Of course this would have no affect that persons ability to find jobs and employment opportunities, or the fact that year after year our country finds employees from other countries to do our jobs since we are not educated enough to perform ourselves. Not at all. Based off a study done by PBS, the total expenditures for education were about 7.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1994-95. That means less than ten percent our our GDP was spent on educating our future members of society and ensuring economic strength. Expenditures for schooling is not the same from state to state. Each state spends a separate amount of money on education, all while being below ten percent of the GDP. There are more fundraisers and expenditures spent on law enforcement and entertainment than education across the states all together. The government should impose a mandatory minimum requirement of ten percent of the GDP earned by states to go to education. Schools would serve food for children that is not mediocre, while possibly providing students with school supplies instead of mandating students to bring class sets of tissues, spare sets of binder paper, and pens and pencils (a requirement of many classes i attended while in grade school). This would also mean new textbooks for students and education beyond the classroom such as camps or field trips. Participation is necessary for education. An educational statistic study was researched by Education.com, stating that mothers who did not finish high school struggle with reading and comprehension today. Only forty-one percent of parents read to their children everyday. While participation is not mandatory, it does help in a child's growth. Students are unable to attend camps without volunteers like parents and volunteer instructors and staff. Field trips cannot happen without proper volunteering as well. Who remembers safety patrol? This program was composed of students and parent volunteers alike. Without them, students who commute on foot would not be safe from oncoming traffic that is unaware of their presence. Not just parent, but family participation is crucial to a child's growth. The educational system has its own funding problems as well. There are multiple schooling systems to choose from and some have more funding than others. Private schools have a fee that is needed for tuition, so overall funding is fed by the students. Charter schools work the same way. Public schooling is completely dependent upon the state and federal government. There should be mandatory educational laws that should only differentiate based on location (like learning how to swim if next to an ocean). Each state has its own standards and the government has its own standard that needs to be met in the curriculum taught. The standard differences make some schools more prestigious while others are left behind. Would you rather have your child graduate from a community college or from a state university? Requirements for education should be the same throughout the country, not split up upon state or even county. With all these things depending on factors that some are unable to control, the battle for education is never won. While some may wonder where funding can come from, participation, and the choices between educational systems, there are some who look at the bigger picture. The education system today can be saved through societies efforts. We should use the education we have received to teach our offspring more than we were able to know. Striving as a country will not only benefit us, but will benefit the nation as a whole. The children of today are the future of today.