英美文化概论 纯正英语版╲t╲t╲tEducationin the US.ppt

Education in the United States The Contents The goal of Education Education---A Local Matter Features of Education Levels of Schooling Higher Education The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act Affirmative Action Programs I. The Goal of Education The goal is to achieve universal literacy and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote both their own individual welfare as well as that of the general public. II. Education---A Local Matter The federal government does not provide a national education system except for some basic rules. The law, for example, says that all American children enjoy equal right to education. Separate education for black and white children is forbidden. Religious preaching in public schools is illegal and all the children before the age of 16 are required to attend school by law. Continues From Hawaii to Delaware, from Alaska to Louisiana, each of the 50 states in the United States has its own laws regulating education. From State to state, some laws are similar; others are not . For example: All states require young people to attend school. (The age limits vary:32 states require attendance to age 16; eight to 18; etc.) Thus, every child in America is guaranteed up to 13 years of education. This is true regardless of a child’s race, religion, sex, learning problems, physical handicap or inability to speak English. Continues Some states play a strong role in the selection of learning material for their students. For example, state committees may decide which publisher’s textbooks can be purchased with state funds. In other cases, decisions about buying instructional material are left entirely to local school officials. Americans have a strong tendency to educate their children about major public concerns---problems such as environmental pollution, nuclear issues, neighborhood crime and drugs. Responding to public pressure, boards of education in different areas often add courses on various releva