Are you smarter than a (fill in the blank)?

[smstonypoint]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...nal-workers-education-math-americans/2935909/


U.S. adults lag behind counterparts overseas in skills

The first-ever international comparison of the labor force in 23 industrialized nations shows that Americans ages 16 to 65 fall below international averages in basic problem-solving, reading and math skills, with gaps between the more- and less-educated in the USA larger than those of many other countries.

The findings, out Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Education, could add new urgency to U.S. schools' efforts to help students compete globally. The new test was given to about 5,000 Americans between August 2011 and April 2012. The results show that the typical American's literacy score falls below the international average, with adults in 12 countries scoring higher and only five (Poland, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy) scoring lower. In math, 18 countries scored higher, with only two (Italy and Spain) scoring lower. In both cases, several countries' scores were statistically even with the USA.

When they test American kids, Mississippi keeps the rest of the states from finishing last.* It looks like we can thank Italy and Spain for serving that role for international adult literacy.

Steve

* No offense intended.

 

[creekbend]

When my Wife was working, job applicants would ask for her assistance in filling out a Job Application. We have two Grand Daughters that graduated from High School, and they lack Math Skills, Spelling Skills; etc. They are quite good at Computer Skills, Texting and Video Games. And forget History questions. One Grand Daughter spent several days with us a couple of weeks ago, and when I asked her who the Vice-President was, she had NO idea.

 

[jinman]

Why is it that American born students struggle with basic skills, but when Asians come here even at an early age, they seem to excel? Look at the children who win the National Spelling Bee each year for a clue. Somewhere, we are failing our kids, and I'm not ready to lay all the responsibility at the steps of the local schoolhouse. In many ways, as loving parents, we are hurting our children by teaching them that rewards don't require hard work. There will always be exceptionally smart kids, but the gap between them and the rest of the kids seems to widen each year.

 

[dave1949]

Why is it that American born students struggle with basic skills, but when Asians come here even at an early age, they seem to excel? Look at the children who win the National Spelling Bee each year for a clue. Somewhere, we are failing our kids, and I'm not ready to lay all the responsibility at the steps of the local schoolhouse. In many ways, as loving parents, we are hurting our children by teaching them that rewards don't require hard work. There will always be exceptionally smart kids, but the gap between them and the rest of the kids seems to widen each year.

Which parallels the income and higher education gaps. I think you have to look at it in a broader socioeconomic sense.

If I had to pick one factor above all others, it would be parental and community expectations of excellence. Missing or ambivalent parents, and broken communities aren't helping.

 

[compact]

Axe.

Never think you are smarter than an Axe, my father (a woodcutter born in 1907) would say. He had scars to prove the wisdom of that statement.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Which parallels the income and higher education gaps. I think you have to look at it in a broader socioeconomic sense.

If I had to pick one factor above all others, it would be parental and community expectations of excellence. Missing or ambivalent parents, and broken communities aren't helping.

Assuming some basic ability, you need two things for and education...opportunity and desire. I believe that our society is trying hard to give the opportunity, in terms of facilities, teachers and administration, at least at the grade and high school level...but the culture of many of the younger folks places very little emphasis on learning. Most Asians I have known, value an education to an extent that is difficult to comprehend. I learned more in a one-room schoolhouse with no running water, a pot bellied stove for heat, a bay of windows for air conditioning, and a couple of two-holers out back than a lot of kids learn in a multimillion dollar, air conditioned facility do today. I agree with you...I believe it is a failure by the parents first, in that they do not stress learning for a myriad of reasons.

 

[dave1949]

Assuming some basic ability, you need two things for and education...opportunity and desire. I believe that our society is trying hard to give the opportunity, in terms of facilities, teachers and administration, at least at the grade and high school level...but the culture of many of the younger folks places very little emphasis on learning. Most Asians I have known, value an education to an extent that is difficult to comprehend. I learned more in a one-room schoolhouse with no running water, a pot bellied stove for heat, a bay of windows for air conditioning, and a couple of two-holers out back than a lot of kids learn in a multimillion dollar, air conditioned facility do today. I agree with you...I believe it is a failure by the parents first, in that they do not stress learning for a myriad of reasons.

We are on the same page. The question becomes, why do so many parents not value educational excellence?

I believe people are motivated by rewards. A few people will be richly rewarded for their efforts, but that number has been declining. Upward economic mobility in the US is not as strong as we perceive it to be according to recent studies.

If a parent worked hard to achieve proficiency at some task and their ultimate reward is being laid-off, because someone in India is now doing that work, what do they tell their children? Moreover, what do the children absorb from their parent's attitudes and actions?

At the lower end of the scale, impoverished communities tend to eat their own young regardless of talent and effort.

 

[dmccarty]

Why is it that American born students struggle with basic skills, but when Asians come here even at an early age, they seem to excel? Look at the children who win the National Spelling Bee each year for a clue. Somewhere, we are failing our kids, and I'm not ready to lay all the responsibility at the steps of the local schoolhouse. In many ways, as loving parents, we are hurting our children by teaching them that rewards don't require hard work. There will always be exceptionally smart kids, but the gap between them and the rest of the kids seems to widen each year.

Japanese, Chinese and Korean cultures put great value in education. I used to share an office with a guy from Korea who is one of the most intelligent people I have ever known. When he was in High School, all he did was study, Study and STUDY. The reason for all of the studying was to place as high as possible on the tests that would get you into the top universities which would very much determine you future career and social status. The irony was that once he got to college he did not have to work much because he had already taken the college course work in his high school years with all of the extra tutoring. Now this guy is certainly not average but what he was doing was expected for many kids and the family has to help the child have the time to do this maximum effort tutoring. The family also has to pay for this tutoring.

There was an article in the WSJ about this tutoring a month or so ago that discussed the performance driven tutoring business. Some tutors make a fortune teaching because they are very good at what they do and their students do well on the tests. Tutors that cannot teach either have to improve or they are out of business. The parents and children cannot afford to pay for a tutor that does not successfully teach.

Japan, Korean and to some extent China, have the advantage of having a homogenous society which is the opposite of the US society. We have immigrants that do not have much education and do not know English as well as segments of our society who do not values an education. This effects the broad based national studies. In the US, kids are often encouraged to take SAT/ACT tests even if they are not going to college where as in other countries if a kid is not on track to go to university they do not take these type of tests. The US numbers are averaged down while other countries averages are higher because of the differences in who takes these tests.

Look at the single parent rate in the US and other societies. When my office mate was in high school, the family focus was on his education. Period. There was nothing else. His mother did everything she could to give him to time to study while his father worked to pay the bills. This level of effort would be almost impossible for a single parent. Even in the less stressful US education system, raising kids by yourself is very hard. There is only so much a single person can do in 24 hours and if the kids require extra tutoring if just may not be possible. Just helping the kids with homework might not be possible most nights for a single parent. I looked at the home work load my kids have and shake my head. We did not have this when I was in school. My wifey and to some extent myself have spent many hours in the evening helping the kids with school work. It can be very hard for both of us to do this and with a single parent it would be all but impossible.

Later,
Dan

 

[mjarrels]

All my inlaws live in the Philippines, speak two languages and have great math skills, don't know what a school bus is or what a school lunch program is. I watch three school buses drive by my house every day and we only have two families with school kids on the road. Two school buses stop at the same house twice a day, I guess because one of the kids is a special needs child.

mark

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Read the article this morning and I'm not too surprised. There are many causes for this including not having a desire for knowledge and rewarding poor performance. Just look at our culture and you see it everywhere you go.

Until there are major changes to our culture, America will continue on the path to decline. Far too many people can sit on their veranda and get Government handouts from the money Government takes for those that carry the load.

I don't have much hope for this country's future unless we make an about turn and start heading down the path that respects and has a hunger for knowledge.

Being a senior, not much left I can do for my kids but they are both doing well. One has an engineering degree and the other has some post HS education and he is giving serious thought to getting back to school. On the wife's side of the family, education/knowledge is not high on the list except for one. Earlier this yr we gave her something that makes it possible for her to seek that education and she is now attending collage that wasn't possible last year. We have hopes for her.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I just returned from a week in Mississippi on business. Took my wife, figured we would make an adventure out of it... WOW ! I had no idea America had turned this corner. Don't get me wrong, met some wonderful and very friendly people, not rocket scientists, but plain, hard working, Americans. However, education didn't appear to be a priority. The farther we went south out of Jackson, the less of a priority it was. I was born and raised deep south, and still was in shock. My wife, who is from Pa., is still traumatized. I was told by locals the downturn in the economy hit hard, but 20 somethings were out of school before that. I'm not sure what has happened to the value of an education in our country, but apparently it has less value in different areas.

 

[Skintback]

I just returned from a week in Mississippi on business. Took my wife, figured we would make an adventure out of it... WOW ! I had no idea America had turned this corner. Don't get me wrong, met some wonderful and very friendly people, not rocket scientists, but plain, hard working, Americans. However, education didn't appear to be a priority. The farther we went south out of Jackson, the less of a priority it was. I was born and raised deep south, and still was in shock. My wife, who is from Pa., is still traumatized. I was told by locals the downturn in the economy hit hard, but 20 somethings were out of school before that. I'm not sure what has happened to the value of an education in our country, but apparently it has less value in different areas.

I am a lifelong Mississippian; proud of it! Born and raised here, I went k-12 here and college here including junior college and Mississippi State University. Every person in MS is not an illiterate, redneck, moron. We have our fair share but we also have some amazingly smart people; but, I do catch myself looking around and wondering if my kids will be able to stay.

MS is an agricultural state; timber had overtaken more than half of the states 82 counties as the top agricultural product; the downturn in the economy was almost catastrophic on the timber business. I hold a degree in forestry; practiced for 12 years before I took a job 6 years ago teaching forestry.

The problem with education is not so much the teachers (sure there are some that are bad but not many)but a fundamental flaw in parenting and morals. Lots of parents are not involved in their child's life let alone education. Morally, children are not taught the most basic values of everyday life: honesty, integrity and life lessons. When working to achieve goals doesn't mean anything to a kid, what can you tell that kid to inspire him? Life is hard; it's harder when you are uneducated or untrained in a trade/skill.

Education in America should not automatically mean college; some people just aren't cut out for it. This is where trade schools come into play. Students can learn unique skill sets to have productive and rewarding careers and lives.

The way I see it, the problems in education are complex and will not be easily fixed; throwing money at it isn't going to fix it either. Until parents are involved in every step of there child's education and/or students decide its time to stand on their own two feet, it's not going to get better. It's frustrating for teachers as well.

Note- this is also a blanket statement; lots of parents and students are very inspiring/committed to education; it just needs to be ALL!

 

[whistlepig]

From what I am seeing these days some high school graduates in the US can't read a tape measure or even do simple math. But they can operate an Smart Phone better than any other human being on this planet.