How the American Education System is Failing Our Students

As students in school, we all had at least one teacher who believed in us and told us that our dreams were possible as long as we worked hard enough. But this wasn’t always the case. The sad truth is that many of today’s educators are focused on preparing students to perform well on standardized tests and not so much on finding out what makes their students unique, how they can help them grow, and how they can foster an environment where each student can reach his or her full potential.

Standardized testing is not an accurate measure of student success
The number of students taking AP courses has more than doubled since 2006, quadrupling the number of minority students enrolled in these classes. Despite this, minority students are just as likely to fail as they were in 2006. Standardized testing is not an accurate measure of student success and there are many other factors which play a role in a student’s success. For example, poverty and race have been found to be strong predictors for how well a student will do on tests or whether they even graduate from high school at all.

Teachers are overworked and underpaid
Teachers in America work more hours, on average, than teachers in any other industrialized country. Yet they are paid less and are more likely to be unemployed or working multiple jobs. The crisis in education is not a lack of knowledge; it’s a lack of investment.

Lack of funding leads to overcrowded classrooms and outdated resources
The lack of funding in our education system has led to overcrowded classrooms and outdated resources. As a result, many students are being left behind and not getting the support they need. There are many teachers who don’t have enough supplies or who don’t even have their own classroom. While there’s been a lot of talk about how we can improve the public education system, little progress has been made so far. It’s clear that our country needs to take drastic measures if we’re going to provide children with an equal opportunity for success.

Bullying is a serious problem in schools
Bullying has become a serious problem in schools. Victims of bullying are at greater risk for mental health problems, and they are more likely to abuse substances or engage in self-harm.

College is becoming increasingly unaffordable
The cost of higher education in America has been steadily increasing over the past decades. Today, it costs as much as $35,000 per year for some schools. Sadly, this leaves many students without any other option but to take out loans and rack up thousands of dollars in debt.
To make matters worse, there are now fewer jobs available that require a college degree. This combination has led to an increase in student loan defaults and delinquencies which can be crippling to young people just starting their lives.

The pressure to succeed is leading to higher rates of anxiety and depression among students
The pressure to succeed has led to a greater prevalence of anxiety and depression among students. In a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, it was found that three out of five college students were suffering from some type of mental illness. Half of those were diagnosed with depression.