The idea that our schools do not compete on a global level is a complete farce perpetrated by folks with a political agenda. Well meaning but unaware people so earnestly believe this, though, that people look at you funny when you disagree. Here are the facts: In the US we do not track our children. Every child takes math, english, history, science, some PE, some fine arts and a few electives. When our kids are tested against other countries we take an average sample (typically from Minnesota public schools, FYI). These tests are then compared against students who are tracked towards math or science careers in their countries. It is this simple: our average are compared against other coutries best. Well no kidding we don't do as well.
My source: The Maufactured Crisis. Our schools are just fine, though of course I hope we keep trying to make them better.
My points earlier on pushing kids and setting high standards weren't just limited to schools, but to our society in general. Schools are just one example where our collective will has resulted in (IMHO) lowered bars for achievement.
I don't think I have a political agenda* and I agree that there is significant tracking in a number of other countries. I'm also not an academic and have not studied this rigorously, so I admittedly have only my experience. Having said that, I have been trying to hire Masters' and PhD engineers, mathematicians, statisticians and other analytical types for well over a decade ... and have mostly learned about the intricacies of our H1B, L1, B1, etc. immigration process. If I pursued a "hire American" only policy, my last three companies would be woefully lacking in staff primarily because there are so few American students even in those programs. Now, granted, this is the tip of the academic world, but it speaks to a funnel through which not enough American kids are passing into hard sciences careers. Well, at least it speaks that to me. In a world of increasing technological complexity, this doesn't seem to bode well ... especially while we try to tighten up our immigration policies against the exact kind of high intellect people we do need to drive technological innovation. (OK, I do have a political and business agenda on that front, but will say no more)
I've certainly helped to derail this thread, so I'll go back to my battle cry for all of us over 50 or approaching going over 50: DON'T GIVE UP COMPETING! THERE LIES DANGER!
* but, as an aside, I hardly imagine the authors of The Manufactured Crisis to be apolitical in their use of data
The idea that our schools do not compete on a global level is a complete farce perpetrated by folks with a political agenda. Well meaning but unaware people so earnestly believe this, though, that people look at you funny when you disagree. Here are the facts: In the US we do not track our children. Every child takes math, english, history, science, some PE, some fine arts and a few electives. When our kids are tested against other countries we take an average sample (typically from Minnesota public schools, FYI). These tests are then compared against students who are tracked towards math or science careers in their countries. It is this simple: our average are compared against other coutries best. Well no kidding we don't do as well.
My source: The Maufactured Crisis. Our schools are just fine, though of course I hope we keep trying to make them better.
My points earlier on pushing kids and setting high standards weren't just limited to schools, but to our society in general. Schools are just one example where our collective will has resulted in (IMHO) lowered bars for achievement.
I don't think I have a political agenda* and I agree that there is significant tracking in a number of other countries. I'm also not an academic and have not studied this rigorously, so I admittedly have only my experience. Having said that, I have been trying to hire Masters' and PhD engineers, mathematicians, statisticians and other analytical types for well over a decade ... and have mostly learned about the intricacies of our H1B, L1, B1, etc. immigration process. If I pursued a "hire American" only policy, my last three companies would be woefully lacking in staff primarily because there are so few American students even in those programs. Now, granted, this is the tip of the academic world, but it speaks to a funnel through which not enough American kids are passing into hard sciences careers. Well, at least it speaks that to me. In a world of increasing technological complexity, this doesn't seem to bode well ... especially while we try to tighten up our immigration policies against the exact kind of high intellect people we do need to drive technological innovation. (OK, I do have a political and business agenda on that front, but will say no more)
I've certainly helped to derail this thread, so I'll go back to my battle cry for all of us over 50 or approaching going over 50: DON'T GIVE UP COMPETING! THERE LIES DANGER!
* but, as an aside, I hardly imagine the authors of The Manufactured Crisis to be apolitical in their use of data
