Test results mixed for students in US (Americans behind)

[leftchick]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/12/15/test_results_mixed_for_students_in_us/

<snip>

US pupils scored above the international average on the tests, given to students in dozens of wealthy and poor nations every four years. But the grades overall were mediocre for a prosperous nation that devotes billions of dollars to education, test officials said.

"The United States really is an underachiever, given our economy, our educational level, the resources that we put into education," said Ina V. S. Mullis, codirector of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and an education professor at Boston College, which runs the study.

In Washington, D.C., national education officials hailed the higher scores in the eighth grade, especially in algebra. Black and Hispanic students also did better, officials said, crediting the improvement to clearer standards for what schools should teach and greater federal and state oversight of schools.

"One can argue whether it's fast enough, high enough, quick enough," said Patrick Gonzales, the US research coordinator for the test, "but what it means is improvement."

Overall, American eighth-grade scores increased since 1995, when the test was first given, but fourth-grade scores hardly budged.

US scores trailed many industrialized countries, especially those in Asia. Students in Singapore topped all nations in both subjects.

[HawkerHurricane]

1. What do you expect?

when a major religious group tells you that too much 'learning' will cause you to 'lose your faith' and condemn you to hell, thereby discouraging education?

[durablend]

3. Besides that...

One doesn't need much of an edukashun if they're going to be drafted anyway.

How much intelligence does one need to fire a gun then get shot up?

[bleedingheart]

2. Our culture doesn't value intelligence... only people eating roaches on TV

Those of us who care about education are few and far between. I see countless lazy parents who do not help or encourage their children educationally...

Some parents are more excited about their child's classroom ice cream party than whether or not the kid can read...oh and by the way I have met the parents who fuss about how "johnny has too much homework"...

What do we really expect?

[TahitiNut]

4. Madagascar hissing cockroaches

I doubt 25% of the viewers could locate Madagascar on a map. :eyes:
Many probably think it's next to Nascar. :silly:

[elehhhhna]

5. No Child is Left Behind because no one's advancing.

[Squatch]

6. How can kids study when they're in handcuffs?

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