President elect Trump’s new choice for US Secretary of Education is in favor of private schools in America.  What would happen in America if we lose our common culture found in public education?  Many are fearful that society will become more divided.  Here is an interesting timeline of America’s school system with issues of racial justice highlighted.  Public schools must be supported as the first place for social justice and equality.

The first American schools in the thirteen original colonies opened in the 17th century. Boston Latin School was founded in 1635 and is both the first public school and oldest existing.

School leaders work hard and they include people like the principal who is the head of the school as well as counselors, teachers,  and security. They all have to make sure that the school is working well. Equal justice means we all have to be treated equally. In America the public schools have always welcomed people from different places around the world. We can be different colors, but we learn together the values of democracy and human rights.  Education makes us all humans on the same level.  We have to the care from one another.  If we are all working together we can have a better future together.

Public Education should be a strength in American society.  Across the United States there are 26,407 public secondary schools and 10,693 private secondary schools. About 50.1 million students will attend public elementary and secondary schools. Of these, 35.2 million will be in pre-kindergarten through grade 8 and 14.9 million will be in grades 9 through 12. An additional 4.9 million students are expected to attend private schools.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_the_United_States

11 facts about America’s education system today: 11-facts-about-education-america

“If the 1.3 million dropouts from the Class of 2010 had graduated, the nation would have seen $337 billion more in earnings over the course of the students’ lifetimes.“

I think having alternative high schools is good for America. It helps students that did not graduate in their regular high school. They have a second chance in an alternative high school to graduate. In addition, this kind of high schools helps other people that come from different countries around the world. They can go to this type of high school to study. If they graduate from an alternative high school, they will be a better person in life. It also helps the country because if we have better education then we also have a better country. A democratic society needs to have good choices and good options through education.

“In the workplace, 85% of current jobs and 90% of new jobs require some or more college or post-secondary education.”

This fact shows how important it is to be educated. When you have a diploma from a high school you can get better opportunities in life. For example you can get better jobs, and you can help other people more easily if they need help.

“30 years ago, America was the leader in quantity and quality of high school diplomas. Today, our nation is ranked 36th in the world.”

Does this mean that American education has changed for the worse or does it just mean that the world has become more complicated and American education has more problems to solve? What does a diploma mean? A high school diploma high can have a lot of meaning for different people. Not every student works in the same way to earn a high school diploma.  Some people come from different countries to the United States, and they don’t even speak English when they get here. However, many students that come to the United States have to finish high school. As a result, they get a  high school diploma. They get a diploma even if they have to live by themselves. It can be hard for them, but it is how a good student works for what they want to be in life. They don’t want to be one of those people who are not educated and work becomes their education.