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.
I don't believe I bashed the U.S. schools, I think I just said we probably need to push our kids a bit harder to excel on average. My thinking is that it is often times the parents that let them slack too much and those are the same parents that seem to blame the schools when their kid falls behind. My wife and I made a decision to keep our kids in the local public school that was not rated as high as other alternatives because we believe in public education. It has worked out well so far.
I am sure statistics regarding education are manipulated and I am sure you can write a book that makes the case that everything is fine. Obviously, in countries like India and China they have huge segments of their population that have little education, but they also produce a ton of people (probably as many or more than the U.S.) with advanced degrees. I don't recall when I entered the work force thinking that there would be any competition for a job from a non-U.S. resident. However, now you compete against immigrants as well as oursourcing in many cases for that first job and through-out your working life. Patrick is right that it sure doesn't appear that the U.S. produces enough people with advanced degrees and engineers, etc. to meet our needs.
Tim
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.
I don't believe I bashed the U.S. schools, I think I just said we probably need to push our kids a bit harder to excel on average. My thinking is that it is often times the parents that let them slack too much and those are the same parents that seem to blame the schools when their kid falls behind. My wife and I made a decision to keep our kids in the local public school that was not rated as high as other alternatives because we believe in public education. It has worked out well so far.
I am sure statistics regarding education are manipulated and I am sure you can write a book that makes the case that everything is fine. Obviously, in countries like India and China they have huge segments of their population that have little education, but they also produce a ton of people (probably as many or more than the U.S.) with advanced degrees. I don't recall when I entered the work force thinking that there would be any competition for a job from a non-U.S. resident. However, now you compete against immigrants as well as oursourcing in many cases for that first job and through-out your working life. Patrick is right that it sure doesn't appear that the U.S. produces enough people with advanced degrees and engineers, etc. to meet our needs.
Tim
