Public Education

Public Education

Introduction

This paper intends to discuss the concept and mechanism of Public Education. Further, it explores the problems prevailing in the society regarding Public Education. In order to combat those problems, this paper suggests possible Public Education Policy that shall be implemented to have a better education system in the country. In addition to this, it also explains the potential benefits of the proposed education policy.

Public education itself is an important part of democracy and civil society. For a civil society to perpetuate itself, it must educate its citizens in the principles of citizenship. The founders of America made public education a priority, and educators understand the central responsibility of schools to teach the next generation about how to act as virtuous citizens.

The Americans face numerous issues in public education. The stark contrast between the funding received by public schools in different cities, in independent states has led to quality education becoming affordable for the wealthy only. While, there are schools out there that are in a state of deterioration. This has an adverse effect on the progress of the country. The inadequacy and inequity in public school funds results in a high drop-out rate from public schools.

Discussion

The severe disparity between the funding received by public schools across the country has led to public schools becoming a hub for the wealthy only. Whilst, there are schools out there that are in a state of deterioration with infrastructure so bad that the classrooms are overcrowded. This has an adverse effect on the economy and progress of the country in the long term. For the reason, that the exacerbating conditions due to funding issues lead to ever increasing drop-out rates from public schools (www.pbs.org, 2011).

Further, Public education has seen an increasing emphasis on summa-tive curriculum evaluation through standardized testing in order to hold schools accountable and make them responsible for closing the achievement gap between children from differing social, cultural, and economic circumstances (Hanushek, 1996). Curriculum evaluation, then, informs a social and political process that, in turn, influences curriculum design.

Issues in School Finance

Revenues create more dissension than do expenditures. Revenues must meet or exceed expenditures. Lawsuits were often filed based on expenditure per pupil. Plaintiffs in equity lawsuits argue that more money is spent on students in some districts than on students in other districts in the state. Plaintiffs in adequacy lawsuits argue that the expenditure per pupil in a specific district is inadequate to teach students to high standards. Expenditure per pupil is related to a district's ability (property wealth) and willingness (often considered income though sometimes measured in terms of local tax rate) to tax itself.

Expenditure also refers to how each school district allocates its money to the various budget items. Scholars disagree regarding the importance of expenditure allocations. Some argue that the amount of money received by most school districts is adequate; what is needed is a more efficient allocation of funds. That is, restructure the budget to spend money in ways that have proven to improve ...