Summary of Why The Education System Is Failing America | CNBC Marathon

00:00:00 - 00:35:00

The education system in America is failing for a variety of reasons, including the politicalization of initiatives like Common Core, the lack of commitment to improving student performance, and the lack of funding for teachers. The recent pandemic has made the situation worse, with many teachers leaving the profession or being forced to take on second jobs. There is a movement to establish more evidence-based and comprehensive sex education programs, but these face opposition from those who believe that abstinence should be the primary focus.

• 00:00:00 The Common Core curriculum was designed to revolutionize the American education system by raising standards and preparing students for success in college and the workplace. However, the initiative has been met with confusion and ridicule, with some critics mocking the math items in particular. There is debate about whether or not the Common Core can work, but proponents argue that it is important to have standards and clear expectations for students.
• 00:05:00 The Common Core standards were designed to improve student performance, but they have failed to do so. There are numerous theories as to why this is, but the most popular theory is that the standards took away the control from teachers who always have a better understanding of what their students need. Another theory is that those who wrote the standards didn't take into account the financial difficulties of students across America.
• 00:10:00 The education system in America is failing due to poverty and a lack of commitment to improving student performance. Common Core was an initiative that was doomed to fail from the start due to its politicalization. States that adopted it began to retreat and people began to relabel their standards, even if they were essentially the same standards. The Biden administration is not expected to enthusiastically embrace Common Core, but experts assure that education in the United States will continue to improve as long as there are those who believe in the importance of education.
• 00:15:00 The average teacher salary in the US is low compared to other developed countries, and the profession is overwhelmingly female. This is due in part to the historical view of teaching as "women's work" that is not highly valued. The recent pandemic has made the situation worse, with many teachers leaving the profession or being forced to take on second jobs.
• 00:20:00 The education system in America is failing because teachers are not being paid enough. This is causing a teacher shortage, and the quality of education is suffering as a result. One solution is to create leadership roles in Washington, DC, where teachers can make upward of $130,000.
• 00:25:00 The debate over what type of sex education to provide in public schools has been ongoing for decades, with no consensus in sight. Some argue that abstinence-only education is the best way to prevent pregnancy and STIs, while others argue that comprehensive sex education is necessary to provide students with all the information they need to make informed decisions. The middle ground curriculum, called abstinence plus, typically stresses abstinence while also providing information about contraception and condom use. Ultimately, the decision of what type of sex education to provide falls to the states and school districts.
• 00:30:00 The cost of teen pregnancy and the inconsistency of sex education policy across the US are having serious economic consequences. Mississippi is one state that has addressed this issue by requiring all school districts to adopt a sex education curriculum. Family planning and access to birth control are important factors in preventing teen pregnancy and reducing its associated costs.
• 00:35:00 The lack of a federal policy on sex education in the United States has resulted in a patchwork of programs and approaches, many of which are faith-based and abstinence-only. This has led to a situation where the teen birthrate is falling but STI rates are rising. There is a movement to establish more evidence-based and comprehensive sex education programs, but these face opposition from those who believe that abstinence should be the primary focus.