carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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04-30-12 09:33 AM - Post#148636
In 2001, George Bush signed the infamous “No Child Left Behind” Law. The results are companies like Pearson, Inc., a well know Test developing company is making millions of dollars
from standardized tests and other companies are providing after school tutoring for more money. “Pearson has a five-year testing contract with Texas that’s costing the state taxpayers nearly half-a-billion dollars.” Pearson was instrumental in drafting no child left behind and we are now teaching tests in school and we are doing no better academically.
In Finland, which ranks 1st globally in Reading, 4th in Math and 3rd in Science, they have no standardized testing. By the way, the US is 15th in Reading, 18th in Math and 14th in Science and we love testing everyone. So what’s the difference? Why do we put so much emphasis on testing when we don't get better results? What else can we do?
In India, there are more honor students than there are students in the US. Okay, they have 5 times the population, but to be the smartest kid in class in India is culturally important and can make you the most popular kid in school. That cultural need to “show a good face” and not embarrass the family is strong throughout Asia.
In the US, we live by the survival of the fittest so, Athletes are the stars. When was the last time we saw a Pep Pally for Honor Students? In fact in my High School, no one dared to let anyone know how smart they were or they could be a target for the athletes to bully. We have a culture that almost frowns on academic achievement and sometimes punishes it in the school yard.
We will never have the Asian culture of academic stars that is not in our DNA as a nation. However, we do need to put a spot light on those that do well academically and make academic achievement every bit as important as being able to throw a football. Maybe create intermural competitions and have pep rallies for the smart kids. There is a need to change how we culturally view intelligence. It would take a generation, but we cannot keep the spot light on athletics which provides little more than entertainment if we are going to compete in a global world where technology rules and smart kids make the biggest paychecks.
Our nation’s richest people are mostly the kids that were nerds in High School. Innovation is coming from the smartest kids. We need to find a way, the best we can, to make Smart Cool.
By the way, does anyone know what skills are transferable from a Cheerleader to the real world?
Reference: A Very Pricey Pineapple
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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Maringa
enthusiast
Posts: 329
Reg: 11-06-08
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04-30-12 01:09 PM - Post#148667
In response to carygold
I think somewhat, there is a "form" of what you are talking about in pre-AP, GT classes that are offered in most of the middle/high schools. The kids that test, and participated in these set-ups are generally quite pleased. Unfortunately, it is one of the programs that often gets discussed in budget cutbacks...My kid attends this program, and it has been a Godsend for him. It has changed his outlook on striving for academics, way beyond what I experienced when I was a high school student. Public Education has definitely improved in this area.
I'll be honest and admit that I really don't know what the right/correct answer is, but in many of the countries mentioned, the higher academics are usually located in private schools/institutions. The public programs may have the higher academic students "separated" to higher learning environment/facilities that feeds their university systems. The "left behind" types usually just go for a basic education - enough to help get reasonable working skills. The point I want to make with this, is that it is uncomfortable to discuss separate academics in public school environments. In one hand, we have groups that believe that all students should experience the same educational setting/courses regardless of students abilities. This in turn may "slow/level down" teaching at the risk of de-motivating/frustrating higher academic students. Then there is the other group who wants to separate academic levels so that it doesn't bog down each group, and apply different teaching methods/requirements to different academic groups. Issue is additional costs, teachers, etc. and possible disagreements on "equality, separation, etc.".
Edited by Maringa on 04-30-12 01:21 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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04-30-12 02:24 PM - Post#148669
In response to Maringa
The culture of Asia and India, the Asian subcontinent, but still Asia, is one that enforces hard work in school public or private, it is part of the culture. This culture can be found in countries as different as VietNam, Cambodia, China, Japan, and South Korea and even right here in America, where people expect Asians to be smart.
It has nothing to do with public or private school and everything to do with the culture and what is expected.
When have you heard of an American student being admired by his peers for being the smartest in his or her class? Its not part of our culture and probably never will be. But IMO, we need to move that direction, and stop making the top Athletes the center of attention and admiration.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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