The United States education system is not at a particularly high point these days, but it did reach a peak in 1945. The Institute for Education Sciences, which performs research for the federal government, has found that educational spending fell during the Great Recession. According to their study, per-pupil spending fell 7% overall, and increased by more than 10% in seven states and nearly 20% in two. Moreover, per-pupil spending cuts significantly decreased college enrollment and test scores. The effect was greater among black students than in white students.
As a result, the US education system has many problems. One of these problems is its focus on grades and test scores. While good grades are important, bad grades do not reflect ability or intelligence. In addition, the GPA doesn’t measure intelligence and the ability to learn. As a result, young students no longer want to attend school. Standardized testing has also been blamed for reducing creative thinking in children.
The growth in enrollment in higher education occurred during the period from 1945 to 1970. During this time, universities and colleges participated in a complex national war effort. The long-term benefits of these efforts were felt decades later. The President’s Commission on Higher Education in a Democracy recommended federal funding to continue education programs during peacetime. The result was the “G.I. Bill” – a bill to support military veterans’ educational endeavors.
