Falling behind foreign peers KAMARIA WALTON staff writer
E
ducation is a topic that affects everybody, whether it is knowing somebody who attended school to being the student. Now a less spoken about topic is how the United States’ educational system compares to the rest of the world’s. The PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment)is a test administered every three years given to 15 year old students. According to oecd.org this test is an ‘effort to assess student performance and to collect data on student, family, and institional factors that can help to explain difference in performance.’ Now it is no secret that how Americans educate their students is totally different from how China or Finland does. But is that a good or a bad thing? Studies show that Americans are falling behind their foreign peers.
There are two main reasons why the American educational system is failing compared to the rest of the world. The gap between those with affluent backgrounds and those with low income is the first. The large amount of standardized testing is the second reason. But what can America do to improve? “I think we should start school too young. In a couple years a 15-year old will be in college. That’s too young,” teacher, James Smanik, said. Remember ERHL when improving American education. E is for Equal Oppurtinity for education. Which mostly means closing the gap between those with affluent and poor backgrounds. R is for Resources. “But on the other side, if college is free then how hard are you going to try?” Smanik, said. Give resources to those who need them the most such as school in low-income communities. H is for Higher standards and support for those with special needs. L is
for Lessen. Lessening the amount of standardized testing is one of the main reasons why Finland is so sucessful. But why is education so important? Education is something that teaches and informs the public and gives skills that couldn’t be taught otherwise. If every American school taught the way and had the resources that Finnish schools had then it would lead to a more educated population. Which leads to more people learning about the things that they vote about. More people would be able get jobs and create jobs, which also leads to more income, in turn would have a better standard of living for the population. Addressing a previous issue of giving resources to low income communities would finally help with everybody having a equal opportunity to accel in life. That isn’t only the American dream but that is the dream educational system that Americans need.
Sample PISA Question: Did you know that in 1996 we spent almost the same amount on chocolate as our Government spent on overseas aid to help the poor? Could there be something wrong with our priorities? What are you going to do about it? Yes, you. Arnold Jago, Mildura 1. Arnold Jago’s aim in the letter is to provoke: A. guilt. B. amusement. C. fear. D. satisfaction. SCORING: Question 1 Full credit: A. Guilt. No credit: Other responses or missing reply. Source: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/