Why Is the School System so Bad in America? What Parents Need to Know

When deciding what path to take when it comes to your child's education, there's a lot to think about. You'll need to consider the positives of public education, but also the problems. There are, unfortunately, more than a few problems currently affecting America's education system. We’ll go over some of the most significant problems now. This information should help you better understand the difficulties students (and their parents) face on a regular basis.

Why Is the American School System So Bad?

Let’s take a look at the main reasons why parents sending their children into the American schooling system should consider all of their options, including our homeschool academy.

Funding Deficits

The public education system has struggled with funding for years, and the present day is no exception. Most schools rely heavily on funding from state and local governments. The majority of that funding comes from various sales and local property taxes. Since the monetary value of those taxes can vary wildly, funding is not always even or consistent.

Turbulent economic conditions can also have a dramatic impact on educational funding. For example, research published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities indicates that the Great Recession had a tremendously negative impact on school funding. Indeed, it took many states years to begin offering better funding again.

And even now, the funding most institutions in the public school system receive isn't nearly enough. And without enough funding, important school programs are in danger of being cut - and often teachers can't be given raises.

Decline In School Safety

Parents, students, and teachers have all expressed growing concern over the sharp rise in safety concerns at public schools. High-profile school shootings and bomb threats alike have left students of all grade levels, from elementary school to community college, uncertain and uneasy. The stress of this can lead to poor academic performance.

Teachers likewise struggle with how to handle these growing dangers. Some school districts now offer specialized teacher training for how to respond in an emergency situation, but this doesn't always help.

Challenges With Technology

Modern technology is a part of our daily lives in many ways. However, educators often struggle to strike a good balance when it comes to technology in public education. Certain types of technology can serve as effective learning tools. Others, however, serve as little more than shortcuts and can even lead to cheating. AI tools such as ChatGPT, for example, have become particularly controversial in recent years. Many students are using these tools as a crutch, which can compromise their ability to develop healthy critical-thinking skills.

School Choice Controversies

America's education system has also struggled in recent years due to the increasing prevalence of private schools and charter schools. These alternatives give parents options other than public education for their children, but there remains considerable controversy.

Charter schools have received mixed reviews on account of their funding methods. These schools are largely independent from the traditional education system, yet are still publicly funded. School vouchers are similarly controversial. These certificates allow parents to send their children to private schools, yet do so by using public funds to cover the costs. 

Understandably, there is a great deal of debate regarding the fairness of this. Many parents feel that the funding intended for use by public schools shouldn't be repurposed for private and charter schools.

Imperfect Core Curriculum Standards

Developed in 2009, the Common Core State Standards were created with educational equity in mind. These standards are designed to give students in all states the same standardized testing requirements. This can be helpful for making sure everyone passes certain milestones, but it can significantly hamper teacher flexibility. Some states have even gone so far as to revise or repeal the standards in an attempt to improve the situation.

Decreased Teacher Salaries and Teacher Shortages

Low teacher salaries have been a prevalent problem for years. Research published in Current Urban Studies shows that this has led to some teachers quitting their jobs or even giving up on teaching as a profession altogether. Furthermore, that research indicates that fewer people are becoming teachers due to concerns over pay. This has, unfortunately, left the public education system with a teacher shortage.

Too Much Emphasis On Standardized Testing

An increased emphasis on standardized testing in recent years has led to a sharp rise in what's known as "teaching to the test". This refers to a teaching strategy that primarily focuses on preparing students for standardized testing, specifically. This strategy involves teaching test-related content for the sake of improving test performance.

This method of teaching, while effective for increasing test scores, has also received considerable criticism. Teaching to the test helps children learn specific facts and vocabulary, but often leaves them without full comprehension of the subject matter.

Furthermore, standardized testing is often used to gauge how a school is performing overall rather than the students themselves. The tests evaluate schools and their effectiveness rather than the progress of students. If a child performs poorly on a standardized test, that rarely results in any change in their tutelage. Indeed, for some schools the primary concern when it comes to low standardized test scores is the corresponding funding cuts that follow.

This demonstrates how the priority of standardized testing has shifted. Originally, standardized testing was for assessing student progress and encouraging student achievement. Instead, it has become little more than an aggravating nuisance for many students.

School Bullying

Bullying is a big problem in many schools and one that's particularly prevalent in overcrowded schools. A 2018 report indicates that over 20% of children in grades six through 12 have been bullied in school. And in all likelihood, this is a low estimate because many kids don't report it when they're bullied. Victims of bullying often go on to develop emotional and behavioral issues that negatively impact their education.

And in some cases, the trauma from bullying might be so severe that children might carry it with them even into adulthood. On-campus mental health counselors can be a great resource in the aftermath of bullying, but this doesn't address the core problem of the bullying itself.

Overcrowded Schools

Class size has steadily increased in recent years, leading to crowded classrooms in many school districts. Classes that used to contain 20 or 25 students now have 30 or, in some cases, even 40. Teachers have expressed growing concern over increasing class sizes. 

They believe that overcrowded classrooms affect the quality of instruction, and research published in Med Edu Bull suggests that they're not wrong. Crowded classrooms increase stress for both teachers and students, and present challenges that can negatively impact student learning.

Lack of Parental Involvement

Even the best teachers can only do so much for their students. Once children leave the classroom and go home for the day, teacher influence is limited. Parents, on the other hand, can provide critical support to their children at home. Unfortunately, far too many parents are too career-oriented to take the time for it. This often leaves kids without sufficient at-home educational support.

Outdated Teaching Methods

Another common issue seen in many schools is a lack of innovation when it comes to teaching methods. Some teaching methods are simply no longer suitable these days, yet change is slow to come, even when teachers speak out. In some cases, the ineffectiveness of current teaching methods leaves students unprepared for higher education.

Shortage of Qualified and Effective Teachers 

Another serious issue with the school system is the shortage of teachers. As discussed earlier, insufficient salaries are partially to blame. Research suggests that low pay is one of the top reasons why teachers might consider leaving their jobs. 

But salaries aren't the only factor. Many schools are struggling to hire instructors qualified to teach even the basic core curriculum that students need. Some schools have had to resort to filling in the gaps however they can, even resorting to hiring long-term substitute teachers. While this does technically put a teacher in the classroom, the learning experience isn't the same. Even a well-qualified substitute teacher might not be as familiar with the subject matter as a full-time teacher. As such, they might lack the in-depth knowledge needed to really teach the material. 

Teacher education programs also have a significant impact on the overall effectiveness of the American education system. Proper teacher preparation is critical, yet regrettably also often overlooked. Poor teacher preparation programs can also leave even full-time teachers unprepared for real classroom settings. Inadequate teacher education programs do a disservice to both the teachers and their students, leaving everyone frustrated.

What Can Be Done to Improve the Situation?

If your reaction to hearing about all these problems is to ask, “What do we do?” then you're not alone. Many parents wonder what can be done to address the problems plaguing the educational system. And thankfully, there are steps we can take to improve the situation.

This list contains both personal and systemic changes that could help. We've also included some emerging trends that already seem to be improving certain aspects of the American education system.

Increased Prevalence of Maker Education

If you've never heard of the term "maker education" before, don't worry. This learning/teaching approach is relatively new, but shows great promise. Maker education is a type of project-based, hands-on learning that helps teach children collaborative problem-solving. This type of approach can be great for teaching children how to think creatively and become self-starters. This approach can also be helpful for teaching critical thinking skills that they can use throughout their entire lives.

Shifting Away From The Letter Grading System

The letter grading system has been in use for many years in the American education system. However, teachers (and students) have begun to feel that this grading system is not sufficient to assess student learning. The current grading system, for example, doesn't offer ways to assess certain skills. 

Many teachers feel that a shift towards mastery-based learning that emphasizes competency is a better option. Teachers feel that it might be better to test students' mastery of a subject rather than their rote memorization of arbitrary facts. After all, a high grade point average might look nice on a report card, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee competence.

Changes in Classroom Approaches

Many students and teachers alike feel that the traditional teaching approach leaves a lot to be desired. In most classrooms, a teacher will lecture their students and then assign them some homework to do overnight. While this method can be effective for some subjects, an alternative approach known as "flipped learning" also shows great promise. Flipped learning entails students doing some assigned reading ahead of time (or even watching a video lecture), followed by in-class problem-solving or discussion. This approach encourages greater engagement by 'flipping' the traditional lecture-homework formula around.

Increased Emphasis on Social-Emotional Learning

Traditional education in America focuses predominantly on academic achievement to the exclusion of most other things. But there is a growing movement that emphasizes social and emotional learning to help support students' emotional and social development as well.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) encourages students to develop their emotional intelligence while also growing their skills. Research published in 2003 shows that SEL offers many substantial benefits to students. Some of these benefits include (but aren't limited to) improved empathy and better decision-making skills.

Improved Funding and Teacher Compensation

As discussed previously, uneven and inconsistent funding can have a tremendously detrimental impact on the education system. Improving how school funding is handled and ensuring that schools have the money they need can facilitate positive change in many ways. Higher teacher pay can also ensure that the people teaching our children are fairly compensated for their work. Better teacher pay will also encourage more people to become teachers. This can help reduce class sizes and make sure everyone gets the thorough education they deserve.

Greater Parental Involvement

One of the most effective ways to ensure your kids get the education they deserve is to take an active role in their education. And we don't mean just taking your children back to school shopping, or occasionally asking them if they've done their homework. Engage your kids in conversations about what they're learning in school. Encourage them to come to you with questions, and be patient when they struggle. 

Be sure to utilize additional resources, too. For example, our book bundles can be great for helping to support learning at any age. These books help teach key concepts in ways that make them easier to learn and remember for children. This makes them an excellent resource for any parent who wants to support their child's education. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Americans Don’t Finish High School?

It's hard to determine an exact number, but 2022 data indicate that around 9% of all Americans don't finish high school. And while this might not seem like a very high number, remember that America has over 348 million people. This means that over 31 million people haven't finished high school or pursued higher education. Not finishing high school can have a long-term impact on a person's ability to find well-paying work. This emphasizes how important it is for your children to get a good education, from kindergarten to their high school exit exams.

What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling Versus Public School?

Homeschooling can offer greater flexibility for both parents and students. Homeschooling your kids also allows you to customize their course curricula. Choosing to homeschool your children instead of enrolling them in public school also gives them a safe learning environment. You also don't need to worry about bullying or on-campus violence when you're teaching your children at home.

There are also many books and learning materials you can use when homeschooling your children. Resources like our activity workbooks can be very helpful for helping your children learn and retain key concepts.

Why Is the US Behind in Math Compared to Other Countries?

America seems to be falling behind in math competency compared to other countries due to a variety of factors. A shortage of qualified teachers is one key factor, as is the emphasis on memorization over true understanding of key concepts. A greater emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking, as well as the hiring of experienced mathematics teachers, can help improve this situation.

Do Home-Schooled Kids Do Better in Life Compared to Those Who Attended Public School?

Homeschooled kids often do very well in life, achieving long-term success in both their careers and personal lives. Generally speaking, homeschooled children also seem to have better college admissions rates compared to those who attended public schools. A 2015 study conducted by the NHERI found that homeschooled children scored between 15 and 25 percentile points higher than public school children on standardized tests.

Conclusion

Ultimately, while none of the issues we discussed are insurmountable, they are still problems you'll need to keep in mind. As a parent, it's important to be well-informed about anything that might impact your child's education and upbringing. We hope you've found the information we shared today helpful for understanding the current struggles found in the American education system.

References

• Academic Achievement and Demographic Traits of Homeschool Students: A Nationwide Study, 2010 | National Home Education Research Institute. (2015). NHERI.
• Changes in Bullying Victimization and Hate-Related Words at School Since 2007. (2018).
• Leachman, M., Masterson, K., & Figueroa, E. (2018, February 28). A Punishing Decade for School Funding. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
• Singleton, E. B., & Roberts, T. (2023). The Impact of Teacher Pay on Teacher Poverty: Teacher Shortage and Economic Concerns. Current Urban Studies, 11(2), 289–300.
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Benefits: Implications for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Core Elements. (2003).
• US Census Bureau. (2022). Census Bureau releases new educational attainment data. Census.gov; United States Census Bureau.
• Vakili, R., Vakili, S., Abbasi, M., & Masoudi, S. (2024). Overcrowded Classrooms: Challenges, Consequences, and Collaborative Solutions for Educators: A Literature Review. Med Edu Bull, 5(2).