Doug Gray

English 1101
November 19, 2015
Argumentative Essay
All In A Days Work

Between the beginning, fall semester and ending, spring semester, there is a
huge decrease in students attendance. There is a plethora of reasons why this is the
case but they can all be generalized into one true statement; for the most part, students
do not like school. In an article on LiveScience, it says that, Two out of three highschool students in a large survey say they are bored in class every single day. (Bryner
par. 1) The majority of high school students are uninterested in their daily school lives.
Thirty percent are bored due to the lack of interaction between the students and
teachers, while at the same time seventy-five percent of students are bored because the
material does not appeal to them.
When thinking of the education system, fear comes to mind because it is such an
important aspect of our society and there are too many problems that lie within it. Fear
derives from the fact that this is the youth of our nation; this is Americas future. If the
schooling systems do a poor job getting the students involved and interested, what does
the nation have to look forward to? In The Claremont Letter, written by David E. Drew,
he does an excellent interpretation of what the school systems are doing wrong.
Generally, he states that three huge flaws are [b]asing educational decisions on

Gray2
aptitude[,] failing to learn from research and experience[, and] relying on poorly
designed testing programs. (1,3) A lot can be said about these concepts.
Think back to third grade, to when students would take the state-standardized
Colgat Tests. The results of those tests determine whether a student will be placed in
advanced courses or just the normal ones. Basically, at age eight, the administrators are
deciding whether or not a student has enough natural intelligence or a high-measured
aptitude, and if the student has that quality, he/she will be placed into alternative
classes. Its a system of separation at such a young age that only leads down two paths;
over exceeding or being normal. Its a separation of aptitude when in all reality, there
should be no separation in the first place. In China, it is a societal norm to believe that
every kid can excel in advanced mathematics and are expected to do so. Not to mention
asians are thought of as the model minority but does this mean that asians are more
naturally intelligent? The answer is no. Simply, they dont have that separation in the
early schooling days. Chinese educational systems hold each and every student to the
same standards because of the belief that it can be accomplished through hard work.
Across the nation, there are incredible schools that produce well-rounded
students and poor schools that have a quarter of drop outs. In the article, Getting
Schooled, it is obvious that some schools have the correct methods, (the ones
producing well-rounded students) [s]o when were aspiring to the kind of achievement

Gray3
that other schools are doing, Im not sure why were starting programs from scratch
every single time.(Stover 47) It is so obvious and truthful it hurts. Instead of modeling
an upcoming school to a very prestigious, and successfully running school, the
programs and curriculum for that school is being made entirely from a clean slate.
Lastly, and most important to the author, the reliance of standardized tests are
detrimental to the school systems. In entirety, there is absolutely too much delegated for
test taking. In fact, Illinois just instated the Park State Exams which causes high school
students to be utterly swamped with tests for the last month of school. The bulk of these
tests are multiple choice which only worsens the case. These types of tests are poor
representatives of what the students have actually learned and the even greater issue;
there are a handful of much better alternatives to test-taking methods that are rarely
utilized. For instance, in Ken Grays psychology class at COD, he uses several
processes to test what the student has learned including: tests that have multiple choice
and short answer questions, self-references and short projects.
On the other side of the spectrum, people argue that the school system is doing
its job. On LearningFirst, an article written by Steve Berlin defends that side. He says
that, for the third straight year the PDK poll reports that 71 percent of Americans
believe that public school teachers are worthy of their trust and confidence. (par. 9)
These civilians believe that teachers are doing a stand up job and fulfilling their duties of

Gray4
teaching the children. But if the teachers are living up to their expectations, wouldnt it
seem correct for the students to be involved and progressing? If this is the real life
scenario, how can two thirds of students be bored in school every single day according
to LiveScience? Due to lack of background information, its questionable that the
Americans who took the PDK poll are even involved in the schooling system; it could be
anyone. Its not every time, but frequently enough, boredom leads to hatred. And
speaking from experience, more students than less walk through the school doors
without a smile on their face.
In retrospect, the educational system is a vital part of our human existence. It
takes children at an early age, and eventually, spits out a grown adult. Even though this
process takes place, the school system is undoubtedly, majorly flawed. Due to the size
of this whole operation, its going to be undeniably difficult. The optimistic way to look at
it is just one school at a time.

Gray5

Works Cited
Berlin, Steve. "The U.S. Education System Is Not Failing." Learning First. National
Association of State Boards of Education, 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Gray6
Bryner, Jeanna. "Most Students Bored at School." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 28
Feb. 2007. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Drew, David E. The Claremont Letter. New York: Publisher Not Identified, n.d. Three
Flaws in the Education System and How to Fix Them. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Stover, Del. "Getting Schooled." Storyboard (2014): 44-47. American School Board
Journal. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.