How Education Has Changed
By Nate Feldman
I read a question in a text book for a class assignment asking students how education has changed between when their parents were young and when they were in school. I can't go into specific details about that, but I can describe some of the changes I have seen in the elementary school I attended between the time I was there and now.
A big change I've noticed is that the education seems more focused on an international view of the world than just an American focused curriculum. I see first and second graders learning children's songs in Japanese, the traditions of Africa, and things about Chinese culture. It's not that we didn't learn about other cultures when I was young, but it wasn't as in-depth as it is now. I believe there are a number of reasons for this. First of all, the student body at the school is far more diverse than it used to be. There are a lot more students of different ethnic backgrounds than there were when I was growing up. Furthermore, when I was in elementary school, the internet had not come out yet. Now, with things like the internet and social media, the world has shrunk considerably, so things that used to seem extremely distant appear to have a bigger effect on us.
I am sure there are other changes in the education between my time and the present if I looked carefully into it, but the focus on other cultures is definitely the most significant change that comes to mind.
