Colin Abercrombie English 1102 Ms.

Sippy March 31, 2013 Academic Conversation Essay The American Academic situation is a troubling one. As Americans we are led to believe we are the best in the wworld at everything we do, we believed this because it was true. We faught and battled our way to the top of the throne through generrations of work. Once we got there we slipped, and now are faced with the problem before us. The United States is not even in the top 10 in the world in education. Why is this? That is a question everyone always wants to give their two cents in. is it because of the teachers lack of will to go the extra step to ensure that their students are on par with their academic potential and capabilities? Or is it due to the lack of effort given by the student to do their very best.

Paulo Freire and Mike Rose, who both have written books and articles on the broken system believe it is because of the teachers. They blame the problems on the current banking method that they rely on for all information. The banking method is where the teacher controls the class the whole time and dominates the conversation. There is no input from the students and usually revolves around the teacher giving lectures or powerpoint presentation. People like Paulo and Mike Rose say this is bad because the studnets dont get involved and the teachers just see empty desks. I can see the problems with ths method, but when teaching a class like wester history or psychology, how else is the teacher supposed to get the information arcross? There is a mass amount of material and the only way for all the subjects to get covered is for teachers to use

the banking methos and give lectures. There are holes in the accusations that these writers coplain about that none of them seem to answer. The flip side to that coin is the students. Around 68% of studnets end up going to college directly after high school. Thats surprisingly low to me, where I went to school around 95% of students went to college right after high school. But even with statistics as high as 68% across the country is astoundingly high compared to other countries. My point is this: there are multiple students to a sngle teacher. If there are students that are in that class that are exceeding expectations and those that arent making the standards how can the blame possibly be put on the teacher? In todays world the student has to go the extra mile and go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to make it in the dog eat dog world. You get a classroom of students who are willing to scratch and claw their way to the top of the classroom and make it a competitive atmosphere the problems that we face today in the current academic system will fade away. You will have a country hungry to be the best. There is a quote that I recite a lot when I need motivation, when you need to succeed as much as you need to breath, then you will be successful. With a mentality to do anthing to be the best in the world and not settle for anything less, our academic problems will fade away to nothing