Advantages and Disadvantages
From what has been said above, many of the American educational system's advantages and disadvantages become clear.
The system provides formal education for a relatively large portion of the population, but the quality of that education is not as high as it might be if the system were more selective. (Most experts agree that people who earn Ph.D. degrees in the United States are as well prepared to work in their disciplines as are people who earn Ph.D.s in odier systems. Below the Ph.D. level, though, many systems offer more depth in students' chosen disciplines than the American one does.
The system's decentralisation serves to insulate educational institutions from national political entanglements and give citizens some voice in what happens in their local schools. Schools can modify their curricula to accommodate needs and conditions that pertain only to their own areas. On the other hand, the decentralization makes it relatively easy for an out-spoken and committed minority in a given community to enroll local schools in controversy. The decentralization also makes it possible for particular schools to maintain low standards if they wish or feel compelled to do so.
"Well-rounded" people, such as those the American system hopes to produce, stand a better chance of becoming "good citizens" (as the Americans use that term) since they have a general familiarity with many topics and can keep themselves informed about matters of public policy. On the other hand, well-rounded people might not be as well equipped to begin working in specific occupations because they have not learned as much in school about specific areas of endeavor as have students whose systems permitted earlier and more intensive specialization.
The American educational system, like any other, is integrally related to the values and assumptions of the society that surrounds it. American ideas about equality, individualism, and freedom underlie the educational system. Whatever its advantages and disadvantages, the system will retain its current general characteristics as long as the values and assumptions that predominate in the surrounding society continue to hold away.
American Symbols, Values & Beliefs
General Facts
| Official name: | the United States of America |
| National nicknames: | the U.S. - the USA - the States - America - Uncle Sam |
| Origin of the Name: | the feminine version of the Latin name of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci |
| Capital: | Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) |
| Number of states | 50 states |
| Current President | Barak Hussein Obama (2009-present) the 44th President |
| Form of Government | Federation |
| Government | Federal Government |
| Currency | the US Dollar (USD) |
American Symbols
1. The National Flag of the USA
| The name of the flag: | the Stars & Stripes |
The current version of National Flag of USA was adopted on July 4, 1960.
The original version of the Flag was introduced by Betsy Ross in 1775.
The 50 stars symbolize the current 50 states and the 13 stripes are the first 13 colonies founded on the territory of the USA.
A book “Our Flag” published in 1989 by House of Representatives explains the significance of colors and stars as:
"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."
"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."
2. The National Anthem
| The name of the anthem: | the Star-Spangled Banner |
It was adopted as the National Anthem on March 3, 1931.
The lyrics of the National Anthem are taken from “Defence of Fort McHenry”, a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and music is given by John Stafford Smith.
Some other national songs:
“ America the Beautiful ”
“ God Bless America/ the USA ”
“ Yankee Doodle Boy ”
NB! The origins of the words and music of the Yankee Doodle are not known exactly due to the fact that the song has many versions. But, this patriotic U.S. song has an uncomplimentary history. The music and words go back to 15th century Holland, as a harvesting song that began, "Yanker dudel doodle down." In England, the tune was used for a nursery rhyme -- "Lucy Locket". Later, the song poked fun of Puritan church leader Oliver Cromwell, because "Yankee" was a mispronunciation of the word "English" in the Dutch language, and "doodle" refers to a dumb person. But it was a British surgeon, Richard Schuckburgh, who wrote the words we know today that ridiculed the ragtag colonists fighting in the French and Indian War.
Soon after, the British troops used the song to make fun of the American colonists during the Revolutionary War (the War of Independence). Yet it became the American colonists' rallying anthem for that war. At the time the Revolutionary War began, Americans were proud to be called yankees and "Yankee Doodle" became the colonists most stirring anthem of defiance and liberty.
3. The National Creed
Written in 1917 by William Tyler Page, National Creed was adopted on April 3, 1918.
“I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”
4. The National Motto
It was adopted in 1956 and signed in law by President Dwight D Eisenhower.
5. The Great Seal
This symbol is one of the oldest in the USA adopted on June 20, 1782. The Great Seal is used for various documents, treaties, commissions, United States passports, military insignia, embassy placards and many other places.
The centre of the Seal has Bald Eagle (National Bird), in the beak of the bird is a scroll with “E pluribus unum” inscribed meaning “out of many, one”. The two claws of Eagle holds a bundle of olive branch and thirteen arrows respectively. The front of the Eagle contains a shield of red and white stripes. Above the Eagle is cloud with blue field having thirteen stars in it.
The reverse of thee Seal contains 13 step Pyramid with 1776 inscribed (in Roman Numerals). Below the Pyramid is a scroll “Novus Ordo Seclorum” meaning “New Order of the Ages”. Above the Pyramid is the Eye of Providence and motto “Annuit Coeptis”.
6. The National Bird
The Bald Eagle was adopted as the National Bird of United States in 1782.
It symbolizes strength, courage, freedom and immortality.
The Bald Eagle is represented in many important places including Great Seal, One-dollar bill, Federal agency seals and President’s flag.
7. National Plants
| The Red Rose is the National Flower of United States of America, proclaimed on November 20, 1986. | Oak Tree was adopted as the National Tree of United States in November 2004. |
8. The Liberty Bell
Is the symbol of freedom in the United States. It was cast in London, England in 1752, and in 1753, the bell was hung in the tower of Independence Hall (former Pennsylvania State House) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bell has got an unfortunate fate, as it cracked shortly after its arrival in Philadelphia. Though there were some attempts to recast and mend it, the Bell remained cracked. During the American Revolution, in 1777, British troops captured Philadelphia. For safekeeping, the bell was moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was returned to Philadelphia in 1778.
As tradition, the bell was rung on every July 4th and on every state occasion until 1846.
Today, the Liberty Bell hangs in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Pavilion on Market Street for all to see and is still gently rung each July 4th.
9. Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a personification of all American values and believes. It is depicted as a tall, white-haired Caucasian male with a goatee, often a top hat, a 1830s-styled waistcoat and trousers in the colours of the American flag. Yet for nearly two hundred years he has been the most commonly portrayed figure of American identity in folk art, political cartoons, posters, patriotic holidays, parades, and national and international displays.
But not many people know that the image first appeared in 1832 as a cartoon entitled Uncle Sam in Danger. The image had a real prototype, Sam Wilson by name, who was a successful businessman in the state of New Jersey in the 18-19th centuries. He used to supply the American Army with food during the War of 1812 and had become a well-known figure in three states ever since. It’s due to his nephew and a good-natured humour of the American soldiers that the country got its nickname “Uncle Sam”.
NB! A factory worker made an offhand remark that he didn’t know what the new and unfamiliar acronym “U.S.” on the cask could stand for other than Uncle Sam—a nickname by which, Wilson was “known and called . . . by everyone.” The soldiers passed the joke among themselves, and it eventually spread to the city of Troy, where everyone knew Uncle Sam and could appreciate the good-natured humor behind the idea of his sharing the government’s initials along with its responsibility of feeding the army.
10. The Statue of Liberty
It is one of the most recognised symbols of the USA, given by the French as a symbol of friendship in 1886. The monument stands on the island in the New York Harbour, thus “greeting everyone coming to the US”.
The monument was built by the architect Frederic Bartholdi in 1886. It became a National Monument on October 15, 1924.
NB! The monument was brought to the US in 350 pieces and then reassembled. It weighs at least 225 pounds and from the foundation of pedestal to torch it is 305 feet and 1 inch. In the statue's right hand is a burning torch and in her left hand is a tablet that says, July 4, 1776.
American Values