The Daily America’s Education Problem
Dec 5, 2019
Dana Goldstein, a national correspondent for The New York Times focusing on education, delves into the ongoing issues within the U.S. education system. She discusses the massive investments made over decades that have failed to close the education gap. Recent data reveals a crisis in literacy, with two-thirds of children not proficient in reading. Goldstein also highlights the challenges in establishing national educational standards and the role of policies like No Child Left Behind and Common Core in shaping educational outcomes.
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Sputnik Moment
- The U.S. felt educational anxiety after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957.
- This sparked national concern about U.S. students' global competitiveness.
Global Competition Anxiety
- Growing anxieties around education were fueled by the rise of Japan and China.
- The decline of U.S. factory jobs further emphasized educational reform.
No Child Left Behind Act
- No Child Left Behind, signed by George W. Bush, aimed to improve education.
- It mandated testing students in grades 3-8 annually and once in high school, a new federal role.