Educational System of The
United States of America
Public sector
Federal
State
Local
Public Education
• School curricula
• Funding
• Teaching
• Employment
• Other policies
Compulsory Education
Home School
Public School
Private School
Elementary School
High School
Middle School
Minimum Courses
1. Science
2. Mathematics
3. English
4. Social Science
5. Physical education
6. “Health”
Elective Courses
1. Computers
2. Athletics
3. Publishing
4. Visual Arts
5. Foreign Languages
6. Junior Reserve Officer`s Training Corps
The Current Structure
• Differences between a college and a university
– College: offers degrees in specific areas
– Community college: can offer trade and technical
certificates, but not 4 year degrees such as a
bachelors. Some students will attend their first two
years at a community college, and then transfer their
credits to a 4 year college where they can complete
their bachelors. Be careful, though that the school has
a reciprocal relationship with the 4 year school or you
may lose credit (see slide on accreditation)!
– Universities are generally collections of colleges, such
as the college of business or college of engineering.
The Current Structure
 Private Colleges and Universities
 Religious (or originally religious and today secular)
 Examples: Yale, Pepperdine, Catholic University of
America
 Non-religious
 Examples: Princeton, Harvard, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
The Philosophy of American
Education
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Student-focused rather than teacher-focused
Student empowerment (rather than give a student what they
need, teach them how to get what they need).
Socratic method – ask questions
Based on scientific process (observe what is there, experiment,
discover)
Little rote memorization
Rather than one path to learning, there may be multiple paths
Emphasis on individual learning styles: visual, auditory, tactile,
kinesthetic, etc.
Teaching methodologies focus on multiple “levels” of student
engagement with the material – critical thinking skills: theory +
method + practical application.
The Philosophy of American
Education
• Project-based
• Student responsibility
• Student portfolios
• Fast-paced
• Encouraging
• Little disciplinary action
• Focused or selective criticism
• Relaxed atmosphere
• Active, participatory rather than passive, reflective
Degrees
1. (B.A) Bachelor of Arts
2. (B.S) Bachelor of Sciences
3. (B.S.W) Bachelor of Social Work
Level/Grade
Preschool
Various optional programs, such as Head Start
Pre-Kindergarten
Elementary School
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
Middle School
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
High School
9th Grade (Freshman)
10th Grade (Sophomore)
11th Grade (Junior)
12th Grade (Senior)
Post-secondary education
Tertiary education (College or University)
Vocational education
Typical age (at end of the school year)
Under 6
4–5
5–6
6–7
7–8
8–9
9–10
10–11
11–12
12–13
13–14
14–15
15–16
16–17
17–18
Ages vary, but often 18–23 (five years to complete four years
of schooling,
referred to as Freshman,
Sophomore, Junior and
Senior years)
Ages vary
GRADING SYSTEM
THE TYPICAL GRADES GIVEN IN A COURSE ARE (FROM HIGHEST TO LOWEST) A,
B, C, D, AND F, WHERE F STANDS FOR "FAILING". SOMETIMES THESE ARE
APPENDED WITH + OR −, GIVING THE GRADES A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−,
D+, D, D−, AND F. THE GRADE A+ IS UNUSUAL IN AMERICAN EDUCATION. D−
IS ALSO SOMETIMES OMITTED, UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT ANYTHING LESS
THAN A D IS BY DEFINITION FAILURE.
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING COURSE
AVERAGES OF NUMERICAL PERCENTAGE SCORES ON TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
INTO LETTER GRADES, COMMONLY USED IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS.[1]
GRADE
PERCENTAGE
A
90% - 100%
B
80% - 89%
C
70% - 79%
D
60% - 69%
F
59% AND BELOW
SOME SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES MAY REQUIRE 70% TO PASS:
GRADE
A
B
C
D
F
PERCENTAGE
93% - 100%
85% - 92%
77% - 84%
70% - 76%
69% AND BELOW
Navy (USN)
October 13th, 1775
330.729 personnel on active duty
102.923 in the navy reserve
Mission
• To maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of
winning wars, deterring aggressions and maintaining freedom of the sea.
Aircraft Flown
Attack
F-A
Helicopter
UH-1
SH-3
Transport
C-2
C-20
Army
June 14th, 1775
Purposes
1. Preserving the peace and
security
2. Supporting the National
Policies
3. Implementing the
National Objectives
The 7 core values of the army
1. Loyalty
2. Duty
3. Respect
4. Selfless Services
5. Honor
6. Integrity
7. Personal Courage
Weapons
M16 (assault rifle)
M4 (carbine)
M9 (pistol)
Air Force (USAF)
September 18th, 1947
Purposes
1. To preserve the peace and the
security
2. To support National policy
3. To implement National Objectives
Aircraft Flown
Bomber
B-B1
B-2
Fighter
F-16
F-22
Reconnaissance
U-2
RC-135
United States Air Force Enlistment
Requirements
TATTOOS
TATTOOS OR OTHER BRANDS OF THE BODY
THAT ARE OBSCENE, SEXUAL, RACIAL, OR
DISCRIMINATING ARE NOT ALLOWED.
FURTHERMORE, SATISFACTORY TATTOOS
CANNOT COVER MORE THAN 25% OF THE
BODY.
Citizenship
You must be a United States Citizen or a
resident alien. If you were not born in the
United States you will be required to prove your
status.
Law
Excessive violations of the law could disqualify
you from entering the Air Force. Each situation
is different and will be reviewed, but if you have
had a high number of major law violations
(misdemeanors and felonies) you could be
disqualified from joining.
Age
 Applicants must be between the ages of 17
and 27 to enlist. You must enter basic training
before your 28th birthday.
 Officer Training School applicants must be
commissioned before their 35th birthday.
 Some professions will have different age
requirements.
Health
 If you have any diseases or conditions that are
life threatening or contagious they are probably
going to disqualify you from service. However,
not all conditions are disqualifying.
 You must be in good physical condition. You will
be physically trained at basic training but you will
have to pass a physical prior to enlistment.
Vision
 Your vision cannot be any worse than + or -
8.0 to join the Air Force. Some individual jobs
have stricter vision limitations. You will
undergo a vision test during your pre-entry
physical.
Weight and Height
 The Air Force does have minimum and
maximum weight and height restrictions.
Basic Training Basic Military Training Physical
Fitness Test
This is the final physical fitness test when
graduating basic training in the Air Force. The
test is sometimes referred to as the BMT or
PFT.
EXAMPLES:
Liberator - minimum graduation standard
 Males must complete a 1.5 mile run in 11 minutes and 57 seconds
or less. They must also complete 45 push ups and 50 sit ups in a
timed test of one minute each.
 Femalesmust complete a 1.5 mile run in 13 minutes and 56
seconds or less. They must also complete 50 sit ups and 27 push
ups in a timed test of one minute each.
Thunderbolt - honor graduate standard
 Males must complete a 1.5 mile run in 8 minutes and 55 seconds
or less. They must also complete 62 push ups and 70 sit ups in a
timed test of one minute each. For this honor standard males will
also be required to complete 4 pull ups.
 Females must complete a 1.5 mile run in 11 minutes and 33
seconds or less. They must also complete 60 sit ups and 37 push
ups in a timed test of one minute each. For this honor standard
females will also be required to complete 2 pull ups.
Warhawk - extraordinary highest standard
 Males must complete a 1.5 mile run in 8 minutes and
8 seconds or less. They must also complete 75 push
ups and 80 sit ups in a timed test of one minute
each. For this highest graduation standard males will
also be required to complete 10 pull ups.
 Females must complete a 1.5 mile run in 10 minutes
and 55 seconds or less. They must also complete 75
sit ups and 40 push ups in a timed test of one minute
each. For this highest graduation standard females
will also be required to complete 5 pull ups.
Marine Corps (USMC)
Captain: Samuel Nicholas in
Philadelphia
November 10th, 1775
Areas of Responsibility
1. The seizure of defense of advanced Naval bases and other land
operations to support Naval campaigns
2. The development of tactics, technique and equipment used by
amphibious landing forces
3. Such other duties as the president may direct
Uniforms
Service Uniform
Dress Uniform
Utility Uniform
Coast Guard (USCG)
Alexander Hamilton
August 4th, 1790
Roles
1. Maritime Safety
2. Maritime Security
3. Maritime Stewardship
Values
1. Honor
2. Respect
3. Devotion Duty