Ricardo+A.

=**May 10, 2010 - Preliminary research**=

Please post the following items __**Rough Draft:**__ Ricardo Alvarez 5/24/10 2nd Period **A Nation at Risk: The Great Debate**

When Terrell H. Bell set to establish the National Committee on Excellence in Education; he was looking for answers to why the American school systems weren’t producing competitive workers to that of the rest world. The results of the findings were published in a report called //A Nation at Risk. A Nation at Risk// developed a modern day disapproval of the American Public School System, provoking the School system to make many changes that have created a lot of questions about the validity of the findings and implementations. In the early 1980’s an economic recession had struck the United States, the once unchallenged Americans industries had been overtaken by other world competitors, one of the causes an educational system that had been “eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity” (United States of America). The report featured the indicators of the risk that promoted studies. One indicator was that 23 million Americans were illiterate (United States of America), which meant that a substantial proportion of the American population wouldn’t be qualified to do thousands of jobs. There was also a regression of standardize test scores from the 1960’s to 1983 among high school students. (United States of America) This seemed to have direct correlation with the demise of the 1980’s American Industry. Once the studies started a broken system was discovered. The findings focused on content of education, expectations, timing, and teachers. The committee summarized that the educational system no loner has “a central purpose” (United States of America) they continue to say “Twenty-five percent of the credits earned by general track high school students are in physical and health education, work experience outside the school, remedial English and mathematics, and personal service and development courses, such as training for adulthood and marriage.” These findings showed that the American students were no longer being challenged; and were rather given easy rides through high school. The Committee defined expectations as “the time, hard work, behavior, self-discipline, and motivation that are essential for high student achievement.” (United States of America) The Committee found that less homework was being given to high school students, 20% of Public Colleges were required to accept all applicants, and in 35 states students were required to only take one math and science class. (United States of America) These minimums quickly became the maximums for many students, leaving students under qualified to graduate high school but still doing so. Students had no real incentives to try especially when one fifth of colleges would accept them regardless of grades and records. Time management was also researched by the committee and it concluded that “(1) compared to other nations, American students spend much less time on school work; (2) time spent in the classroom and on homework is often used ineffectively; and (3) schools are not doing enough to help students develop either the study skills required to use time well or the willingness to spend more time on school work.” (United States of America) Students in other nations were able to become competitive additions to the work force, American students lagged behind. This essential was the risk, that America’s future was uncertain due to unprepared students entering the workforce. Teachers were also found to be under prepared and academically average. Teachers were also underpaid and required multiple jobs to make ends meet. (United States of America) The findings were a daunting reality that vast improvements would be needed to fix the educational gap between the U.S. and other industrialized nations. Once, the report was published Terrell Bell “heard no more about abolishing the Department of Education” (Bell). After all these findings it was only natural that changes to the system would occur, the implantations have received different reviews. Most stats indicate a continuation of failure and lack of progress in the school systems. When the Committee recommended high school students to take “four years of English, three of math, science and social studies and one-half year of computer science” (United States of America) the results have been modest at best, in 2005, the U.S. Education Department found that 36% of high school graduates had completed such a curriculum. (Toppo) Standards, which were recommended to increase, have stayed low since 1983; over 10 million 12th graders can’t read at basic levels. (Bennett) The NCEE also recommended 7 hour school days, but that never received much attention. (Toppo) The United States is still ranking amongst the worst (among industrialized countries) in math standardized testing, ranking 19th out 21. (Bennett) Teacher’s qualifications have dramatically increased as well as their salary, which was strongly recommended by the NCEE. While better qualified teachers do exist, budget cuts will cause one million jobs to be cut. (Blair) The changes that have been implemented have failed and as money starts to become a bigger issue more and more teaching cuts will occur, leaving the students in a worse position. A //Nation at Risk// has had a vast political impact on the way the education system is treated. A Nation at Risk came to the assumption that the economy has direct correlation on how the education system is functioning, but instead of giving facts, the NCEE attacked the school system. (Wong, 38) First, all the State Governments began to investigate the state schools and create the necessary changes, Governors such as Bill Clinton of Arkansas. (Bell) Most state made changes accordingly to the recommendations of the NCEE. In modern times Governors are great for education during campaigns, as Toppo explains “While nearly all governors have dubbed themselves "education governors," few have stepped forward to provide "the leadership necessary" to really help schools.” (Toppo) With lack of real helpful action in current times, schools continue to struggle to help students. Since a Nation at Risk, was introduced the federal government has also increased its hand into the educational system, with bills such as No Child Left behind Act. According, to the U.S department of education 54.4 billion dollars have been spent on the NCLB increasing by 40% since 2001. (Aspey) Besides being a very expensive program to implement NCLB is also ineffective, it’s great to find schools that are having the most trouble but does little to actually fix them. (Finn) A Nation at Risk, caused a great change in politics, were the education topic could win or lose candidates elections. Expensive and ineffective programs are a few of the unintended consequences of a Nation at Risk. Not all were convinced of the finding that the NCEE published in a //Nation at Risk.// //The Sandia Repo//rt discredited much of the findings that a //Nation at Risk// had uncovered. In large declines in standardized test taking had occurred from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. The reason was Simpson’s Paradox which states “The average can change in one direction while all the subgroups change in the opposite direction if proportions among the subgroups are changing” (Ansary) when the scores were divided into subgroups mostly every subgroup had an increasing score. The report wasn’t published until 1993, the panic had already started and people wanted vast changes. //A Nation at Risk// has trigged debate for just under 30 years. The changes it’s created are apparent, from our school curriculum to the way government treats the educational system. Many scream for school reform stating the high illiterate rates in the United States along with the economic problems. While others don’t see the system in need of vast reform, due to the increase in test scoring, as proved by //the Sandia report,// and the decrease in dropout rates. (Nation Center for Educational Statistics) The debate is never ending but //A Nation at Risk// trigged the debate on our Educational System.

Works Cited Ansary, Tamim. "Education at Risk: Fallout from a Flawed Report | Edutopia." //K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies That Work | Edutopia//. Edutopia. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Aspey, Susan. "Archived: Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Request Advances NCLB Implementation and Pinpoints Competitiveness." //U.S.// //Department of Education//. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Bell, Terrel H. "Reflections One Decade after A Nation at Risk." //Phi Delta Kappan// 74 (1993). Print.

Bennett, William J. "A Nation Still at Risk." //Questia// 90 (1998). Print.

Blair, Chester L. "Schools' Top Need Is More Teachers." //Chicago// //Sun-times// 25 Sept. 1989, FIVE STAR SPORTS FINAL ed., EDITORIAL sec. Print.

"Fast Facts." //National// //Center// //for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the// //U.S.// //Department of Education//. Web. 26 May 2010. .

"Fast Facts." //National// //Center// //for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the// //U.S.// //Department of Education//. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Finn, Chester. ""Nation at Risk" 25 Years Later on America's Business." Interview. //Http://www.radioamerica.org/PRG_americasbusiness.htm//. 24 Apr. 2008. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Toppo, Greg. "'Nation at Risk': The Best Thing or the Worst Thing for Education?"// News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. USATODAY, 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 26 May 2010. .

United States of America. The National Commission on Excellence in Education.// A Nation At Risk//. Print.

Wong, Kenneth. "A Nation at Risk: A 20-year Reappraisal."// Peabody Journal of Education //1-6 79.1 (2004): 1-38. Print.


 * __ Outline __**

I. A Nation at Risk developed a modern day disapproval of the American Public School System, provoking the School system to make many changes that have created a lot of questions about the validity of the findings.

II. Schools are being constantly attacked by parents and media for the lack of success. A. The attacks began after Reagan’s committee published A Nation at Risk, that opened the eyes of the USA. B. Pressures build in the school system. III. A nation at risk, eventually led to massive changes in the school system. A. Different requirements for students B. Schools must attain different goals C. Every President now tries to achieve new school reforms that cause instability. IV. The finds of A Nation at risk don’t go unquestioned. A. “Data” that was found is argued to be misleading and incorrect. B. That the changes that it caused have done harm than good. V. A Nation at risk has had a clear impact in our society, causing a strong displeasure and deep rooted changes in our school system.

A Nation at Risk, developed a modern day disapproval of the American Public School System, provoking the School system to make many changes that have created a lot of questions about the validity of the findings.
 * Working thesis statement:**

"A Nation At Risk: The Imperative for educational Reform." (April 1983) Bell, Terrel H. "Reflections One Decade after A Nation at Risk." 74 (1993).// Http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp//. Web. 9 May 2010. .
 * Working bibliography:**

Bennett, William J. "A Nation Still at Risk." 90 (1998). //Http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp//. Web. 9 May 2010. .Cross,

Christopher. "School Reform - A Nation at Risk, Reform in Action, Greater Goals Better Teachers and More Accountability Read More: School Reform - A Nation at Risk, Reform in Action, Greater Goals Better Teachers and More Accountability."// Http://education.stateuniversity.com//. Web. 9 May 2010. .

Hayes, William. //Are We Still a Nation at Risk Two Decades Later?// Maryland: Scarecrow Education, 2004. //Books.google.com//. Web. 9 May 2010. .

Toppo, Greg. "'Nation at Risk': The Best Thing or the Worst Thing for Education? - USATODAY.com." //News, Travel, Weather, "Education Timeline." //Newsweek //15 Mar. 2010: 25.// Student Resource Center - Gold//. Web. 9 May 2010.

Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. Web. 09 May 2010. 

United States. The National Commission on Excellence in Education. //Http://www.csus.edu//. Web. 9 May 2010. 

.Wong, Kenneth. "A Nation at Risk: A 20-year Reappraisal."// Peabody Journal of Education //79.1 (2004).// Books.google.com//. Web. 9 May 2010. .//

http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LgsdQy15h4T1DSppwt7cGLJLf9QRJG1fJ2dYFQ9RL3GGS8JG59J2!850029243!-1142546872?docId=5001667614

http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5001351318

http://books.google.com/books?id=9I6W84OeUDcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=a+nation+risk&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=ML3RDdVm_LoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=a+nation+risk&cd=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-04-22-nation-at-risk_N.htm

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/l/langd/Nation_at_Risk.pdf

http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2400/School-Reform.html

"Education Timeline." Newsweek //15 Mar. 2010: 25.// Student Resource Center - Gold//. Web. 9 May 2010.

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB42133741D12F7&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB36CF75502E28A&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=1

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB36DCED157568B&p_docnum=9&p_queryname=1