Stupid in America

[JimG]

That was the title of the piece by John Stossel on ABC’s 20/20 tonight. Did anyone happen to see it? Here’s one quote that struck me: “The longer kids stay in American schools, the worse they do.”

The program showed that on a standard test, American kids ranked far below students from such countries as Poland and Belgium. I think we were about number 25.

It was also pointed out that in countries in which the education money attaches to the kids, not the schools, students do much better. They can choose which school they want to attend. Schools must compete for students. In the U.S., students are usually assigned to a school, and the schools are funded, not the students. Thus, the schools have no motivation to do improve.

Why can’t American schools do better?

 

[Ortho]

JimG:

That was the title of the piece by John Stossel on ABC’s 20/20 tonight. Did anyone happen to see it? Here’s one quote that struck me: “The longer kids stay in American schools, the worse they do.”

The program showed that on a standard test, American kids ranked far below students from such countries as Poland and Belgium. I think we were about number 25.

It was also pointed out that in countries in which the education money attaches to the kids, not the schools, students do much better. They can choose which school they want to attend. Schools must compete for students. In the U.S., students are usually assigned to a school, and the schools are funded, not the students. Thus, the schools have no motivation to do improve.

Why can’t American schools do better?

I agree with the idea that attaching the money to the kid gives better results.

But, on testing, we have to compare the populations being tested. US schools test all high school students. Other nations have tracking systems where kids are shuffled into VoTech or trade schools. I think this a great idea, but the result is that only a portion of high school age students take he tests.

I don’t make any claims for the actual achievements of US or foreign students, but really can’t make an evauation based on the current methods used.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

First of all John Stossel is worthless in terms of reporting. (p.s. Im on the West Coast so the story is not on yet.)

About the school problem, I think the main problem is that it turned into daycare rather than school. One example is that the teachers have no authority anymore to throw down the ax while at the same time the students have “rights” that protect them from any sort of discipline.

 

[JMJ_Pinoy]

JimG:

That was the title of the piece by John Stossel on ABC’s 20/20 tonight. Did anyone happen to see it? Here’s one quote that struck me: “The longer kids stay in American schools, the worse they do.”

The program showed that on a standard test, American kids ranked far below students from such countries as Poland and Belgium. I think we were about number 25.

It was also pointed out that in countries in which the education money attaches to the kids, not the schools, students do much better. They can choose which school they want to attend. Schools must compete for students. In the U.S., students are usually assigned to a school, and the schools are funded, not the students. Thus, the schools have no motivation to do improve.

Why can’t American schools do better?

This is one reason why so many parents are pulling ther children out of public schools and turning to homeschool. Dr. Dobson interviewed Dr. Bill Bennett (Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan) about this a few years ago.

 

[JimG]

The program showed one building in the NYC school system where they sent incompetent teachers to spend their days not teaching. Because they couldn’t be fired, but they were too bad to remain in classrooms. So they draw their salaries, but don’t do anything. (And the NYC school system is considered better than most.)

 

[carol_marie]

I really had a problem with the teacher’s unions. The inability of the admininstrators to fire that teacher that sent the sexually explicit email to his 16 year old student tells me that something is very very wrong.

I don’t think it’s all schools though… the public schools in my area are fantastic… but unfortunatly that doesn’t help the students who are stuck in failing schools.

I agree that there needs to be some competition. I liked the idea of attaching the tax money to the student. Also - the ability of the parents to choose what sort of school they will send their child to would be wonderful. It bugs us that we pay for the public school through our tax dollars and we also pay for our children’s Catholic School education.

 

[JMJ_Pinoy]

JimG:

The program showed one building in the NYC school system where they sent incompetent teachers to spend their days not teaching. Because they couldn’t be fired, but they were too bad to remain in classrooms. So they draw their salaries, but don’t do anything. (And the NYC school system is considered better than most.)

What a waste of money! :banghead: I don’t know why parents aren’t complaining about this, when the money could be used to hire competent teachers.

 

[Karin]

JMJ_Pinoy:

What a waste of money! :banghead: I don’t know why parents aren’t complaining about this, when the money could be used to hire competent teachers.

A large majority of parents do complain but the Unions have to big of a hold on things.