The article deals with the main goals of education in the US

Коваль, А. В.

English

Zhytomyr State University Library

Альона Коваль м. Житомир  The Goals of Education in the USA       The United States does not have a national system of education. Education is considered to be a matter for people of each state.      The major result of this unusual situation is that there is an enormous amount of variety and flexibility in elementary, secondary, and higher (university) education throughout nation. But, basically, Americans have always aimed for equal opportunity in education, regardless of social class, and national origin, or racial or ethnic group. A high general level of education has always been seen as a necessity in democratic society.              Education in America has also traditionally served the goal of bringing together the hundreds of various cultural and linguistic groups, religions and social and political backgrounds represented by the millions of immigrants.     The goal is to have in each school the same proportion of children from various racial or ethnic groups that exist in the cities population overall.     Taking into consideration educating process it should be mentioned that all American schools tend to put more emphasis on developing critical thinking skills then they do on acquiring quantities of fact. The goal of the American education system is to teach children how to learn and to help them reach their maximum potential.     The development of social and interpersonal skills may be considered as important as the development of intellectual skills. To help students develop these other important skills, schools have added a large number of extracurricular activities. It is by participating in these activities students demonstrate their special talents, their level of maturity and responsibility, their leadership qualities, and their ability to get along with others. Some Americans consider athletics to be the most important of all extracurricular activities. This is because many people believe it is important for young people to learn how to compete successfully.     Students’ government is another extracurricular activity designed to develop competitive, political, social skills in students, their leadership and helping them to be responsible citizens.    There is a variety of extracurricular activities: clubs and activities for almost every student interest, all aimed at helping the student to become more successful in later life.    Schools and universities are also asked to do more and more to help with, or even cure, certain social and economic problems, from the effects of divorce to drug problems, from learning disabilities to malnutrition.   Americans show a great concern for education, because education is considered to be the major hope for improving the individual and society.    References: 1. Datesman M. K., Crandall J., Kearny E. N. The American Ways. An introduction to American culture. – Prentice Hall Regents, 1997. 2. Fielder E., Joensen R. American in close-up. – Longman Group UK Limited, 1990. 3. Stevenson D. K. American Life and Institutions. – Office of English Language Programs and Branch for the Study of the US, 1998. 4. This is America. - United States Information Agency, 2000.  

The Goals of Education in the USA

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