| Show US education in jeopardy Dear Editor O OVER VER the last few years a great deal of concern has been raised over the current current current cur cur- rent US U.S. educational system Experts often refer to rising out drop-out rates low per pupil expenditures and low test scores Many of us have seen reports where high school graduates are asked to find the Pacific Ocean or North America on a map and are unable to While educators argue as to the solution they do agree that something needs to be done In his his' report II A A Nation at Risk Risk Reagan administration Secretary of Education T. T H H. Bell discussed many of the problems His report showed that for 19 consecutive years each graduating high school class dass in America has had lower test scores than the previous Associate Director of the Hansen Planetarium Seth Jarvis sees a rising tide of mediocrity in such critical areas as science and math The average Japanese junior high graduate is better better better bet bet- ter trained in these fields than the American high school graduate says Jarvis Speaking recently at Secretary Bell said that motivation was the key to change r He says there is no motivation in our culture for learning Students arent aren't rewarded for academic achievement Our sports heroes are rewarded handsomely says Bell comparing them to those who achieve academically and andare andare andare are not rewarded socially for their efforts Parents put much more emphasis on education in other countries says Jarvis Many of us have heard children say Why do doI I have to study algebra only to have parents respond I dont don't know Ive I've never used it Both men feel social commitment is alt alt- cal Our culture must be bemore more willing to emphasize emphasize emphasize em em- education From the home to elementary school to college education must have its rewards and social approval And with the home being the first and possibly the most important classroom education must start with the family stresses Bell In the near future many important decisions will be made concerning the structure structure structure ture of the educational system More important important important tant however is the attitude and the commitment which follow Duane Adamson I 4 |
