Sample Research Paper On Age Ranges For Compulsory Education

Compulsory Education in the U.S. and Canada
Compulsory Education in the U.S. and Canada

Abstract

This paper will compare the system of compulsory education in the U.S. and Canada. In an effort to increase access to education and discourage students from dropping out of school, countries across the world, especially developed countries, have undertaken compulsory school attendance legislation. In the paper, the U.S. and Canada will be considered. Through the use of a comparative model, the paper will examine the similarities in the compulsory education systems in the U.S. and Canada in terms of the variations in governance across the various countries. Even so, the paper will demonstrate the differences in the compulsory education systems in the two countries through the strengths and weaknesses underlying them. Whereas the U.S.’s compulsory education system pays great attention to students with special needs and the religious freedom of students, the Canadian system tailors the specific interest of provinces into the system and this has been manifested in the competence of children. However, this paper will challenge the effectiveness of the U.S.’s system to guarantee religious freedom for children. The paper also compares the weaknesses of the systems in the two countries and demonstrates that whereas the U.S.’s system deprives the parents of their constitutional right over their children, the Canadian system does not put emphasis on religious freedom and the lack of national integration brings forth tension in schools when making decisions. The similarity in the nature of the compulsory systems in the U.S. and Canada is unmistakable; however, underlying strengths and weaknesses bring out the entire difference.

Introduction

Background of compulsory education system in the U.S. and Canada

Thesis

Compulsory education system in the U.S.

General age range for the U.S.

Variations in the age range in different states

Strengths of the compulsory education system in the U.S
Incorporation of students with special needs
Lack of religious observance in schools
Counterargument for the religious strength
Weaknesses of the compulsory education system in the U.S.

Contravention of the rights of parents

Discipline anomalies due to extended age rage for compulsory education
Compulsory education system in the Canada

General age range for Canada

Variations in age range across the Canadian provinces
Strengths of the compulsory education system in Canada
Tailoring of compulsory education systems to individual provinces
Competency of the by-products of the compulsory education system
Weaknesses of the compulsory education system in Canada
Lack of integrated national system of education
Failure to incorporate religious and cultural differences
Tension in regard to decision making: school boards and provincial legislators
Conclusion
Summary of points
Recommendation
Annotated Bibliography (References)
Action Canada. (2013). Future Tense: Adapting Canadian Education Systems for the 21st century. West Vancouver, Canada: Action Canada.
This article examines the efforts that have been made to integrate the 21st century reforms into the provincial education systems across Canada. The article, however, points out that the lack of interprovincial integration has been a major setback in embracing 21st century learning across schools in Canada (Action Canada, 2013). In this regard, the findings of the article will be helpful in identifying the weaknesses of the Canadian compulsory education system: lack of national integration.
Browne-Barbour, V. S. (2006). Compulsory Attendance and Parental Rights: There are Limits. Forum on Public Policy, 2: 360–377.
This article describes the history of the compulsory attendance laws in the U.S. and examines the limitations and regulations of compulsory education systems under the constitution. The article's findings show that the compulsory education system deprives children from freedom of religion, care, and custody of their parents. Given this, the article will be of great help in this paper in the sense that it will help in developing a counterargument against the strengths of the compulsory education system, especially the in regard to religion (Browne-Barbour, 2006).
Corsi-Bunker, A. (2013). Guide to the education system in the United States. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
This article provides a general overview of the of the education system of U.S. education system. It also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the educational system. Therefore, the article will be helpful in shedding more light on the underlying strengths and weaknesses in the system of compulsory education, which is part of the education system (Corsi-Bunker, 2013).
Güven, I & Gürdal, A. (2011). A Comparative Analysis of the Education Systems of Turkey and Canada: The Similarity and the Differences. US-China Education Review, Vol.4 (1), pp. 534-546
This article describes the results of a comparative study done between the education systems of Turkey, a developing country, and Canada, a developed country. The study finds out that whereas the education system of Turkey is governed at a national level, the educational system of Canada is governed by individual provincial governments, and this emerges as a major drawback (Güven & Gürdal, 2011). This article will be helpful in providing information for the weaknesses underlying the compulsory education system in Canada, more specifically, the tension in decision-making within schools.
Mackey, P. E., & Duncan, T. G. (2013). Does raising the state compulsory school attendance age achieve the intended outcomes? (REL 2014–005). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic.
This article discusses the current initiatives by several U.S. states to rise the compulsory attendance age. It also provides the arguments for the increased age range, as well as arguments against the move. As such, the article will be helpful in furnishing information on the general age range of compulsory school attendance and the variations that different states have made (Mackey & Duncan, 2013). Besides, the article will help in pointing out the weakness underlying the U.S. compulsory education: disciplinary problems.
Miller, D.C., and Warren, L.K. (2011). Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2011 (NCES 2012-007). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
The article compares the educational outcomes and educational contests of the Group of Eight (G-8) countries, including Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, the U.S, Russia and the U.K. in describing the educational contexts, the article compares the compulsory education systems in Canada and the U.S. in terms of age ranges of compulsory attendance among other factors. As such, the article will be of great help in providing information on the variations in the age ranges in Canada and the U.S (Miller and Warren, 2011).
Morgan, C. (2011). Education in Canada: In Pursuit of Educational Quality and Equity.
Revista Española de Education Comparada, Vol. 8 (1), pp. 125-156.
The article provides an overview of Canada’s education system besides describing the history of the compulsory education system in Canada. More importantly, the article discusses educational equity and quality in Canada, which come forth as a consequence of reforms, such as the province-specific reforms as pertaining to compulsory education. In this regard, the article will be helpful in describing the strength of the system of compulsory education in Canada: tailored to the interests of specific provinces, rather than being standardized (Morgan, 2011).
Oreopoulos, P. (2005). Canadian Compulsory School Laws and their Impact on
Educational Attainment and Future Earnings. Ottawa, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
This article discusses the history of compulsory school laws in Canada and the contemporary policies aimed at intensifying the laws. It also investigates the impact of the compulsory education system in the Canadian society and economy. This article will be useful in providing information on the background of the system of compulsory education in Canada, as well as the strengths (Oreopoulos, 2005).

References

Action Canada. (2013). Future Tense: Adapting Canadian Education Systems for the 21st
century. West Vancouver, Canada: Action Canada.
Browne-Barbour, V. S. (2006). Compulsory Attendance and Parental Rights: There are Limits.
Forum on Public Policy, 2: 360–377.
Corsi-Bunker, A. (2013). Guide to the education system in the United States. Minneapolis, MN:
Güven, I & Gürdal, A. (2011). A Comparative Analysis of the Education Systems of Turkey and
Canada: The Similarity and the Differences. US-China Education Review, Vol.4 (1), pp. 534-546
Mackey, P. E., & Duncan, T. G. (2013). Does raising the state compulsory school attendance
age achieve the intended outcomes? (REL 2014–005). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic.
Miller, D.C., and Warren, L.K. (2011). Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States
and Other G-8 Countries: 2011 (NCES 2012-007). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Morgan, C. (2011). Education in Canada: In Pursuit of Educational Quality and Equity.
Revista Española de Education Comparada, Vol. 8 (1), pp. 125-156.
Oreopoulos, P. (2005, May). Canadian Compulsory School Laws and their Impact on
Educational Attainment and Future Earnings. Ottawa, Canada: University of Toronto Press.