A Nation at Risk

Abstract
The report, A Nation at Risk by the National Commission on Excellence in Education, states that the educational foundations “are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people” (p.1). For the first time in history, American students are being outdone and outscored by students in other countries. The Commission suggests a goal for the educational system to develop the talents of everyone: “We must demand the best effort and performance from all students, whether they are gifted or less able, affluent or disadvantaged, whether destined for college, the farm, or industry” (p.7). The first recommendation made by the Commission is to improve education in our Nation includes a specific approach to implementing content known as the Basics as well as the New Basics. The next recommendation makes a few suggestions including: grades should be used to measure academic achievement, colleges and universities should raise admission requirements, standardized tests should be administered at major transition points, and textbooks should be updated to include more rigorous content. The remaining recommendations include time, teaching, leadership and fiscal support. In an attempt to motivate current students, the report advices students to work to their full capacity, so they can create their own future and control their destiny. In their final word, the authors’ state: “It is our willingness to take up the challenge, and our resolve to see it through, that America’s place in the world will be either secured or forfeited” (p.11).


Reflection
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this report. It has been more than 20 years since it was published, so the educational system has obviously changed since then. I think we can now admit that “foreign power” has surpassed our educational performance, Japan is one country that comes to mind. This report made it sound like we were literally at war, and we were all going to die if we didn’t change the educational performance of students now. I don’t understand why it was so important to remain above the performance levels of other countries, we are still strong competitors. The recommendations made by the Commission reminded me of the education system we have in place today. We have standards that students are supposed to meet in each grade level, standardized tests, and the government has tried to have a bigger role in education. One recommendation I definitely agree with is the teaching salary should be increased and be professionally competitive, market-sensitive, and performance based.