Posted on 12/08/2010 9:53:15 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Hey, who’s up for a little civilizational-decline anxiety on a slow Tuesday news night? Why, I haven’t wet myself like this over China since that Chinese professor ad during the campaign!
After reading this, I’m going to have nightmares like Cartman in that “South Park” episode about the Beijing Olympics.
“Wow, I’m kind of stunned, I’m thinking Sputnik,” said Chester E. Finn Jr., who served in President Ronald Reagan’s Department of Education, referring to the groundbreaking Soviet satellite launching. Mr. Finn, who has visited schools all across China, said, “I’ve seen how relentless the Chinese are at accomplishing goals, and if they can do this in Shanghai in 2009, they can do it in 10 cities in 2019, and in 50 cities by 2029.”…
“We have to see this as a wake-up call,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in an interview on Monday…
“This is the first time that we have internationally comparable data on learning outcomes in China,” Mr. Schleicher said. “While that’s important, for me the real significance of these results is that they refute the commonly held hypothesis that China just produces rote learning.”
“Large fractions of these students demonstrate their ability to extrapolate from what they know and apply their knowledge very creatively in novel situations,” he said.
Follow the link for breakdowns of international scoring in science, reading, and math. I won’t spoil the surprise about where the U.S. placed, but here’s a hint: Not second. There are a few caveats about the results, though. Duncan says he’s confident that they’re accurate and reliable, but the Times notes that the Chinese could be gaming them by letting gifted migrant students reside in the city instead of going home and by motivating them to study with nationalist appeals about how important the results would be to China’s international standing. Which sets up this immortal line from a U.S. education wonk: “Can you imagine the reaction if we told the students of Chicago that the PISA was an important international test and that America’s reputation depended on them performing well?” Yeah, imagine.
Worth noting: The spread between Shanghai and the second-place country in each category is conspicuously larger than it is between second place and third place and so on, so there is reason to be at least a bit suspicious, especially since we know how desperate China can get in international competitions. On the other hand, Hong Kong’s near the top of the board in almost every category but, again, not nearly as high as Shanghai. If the Chinese were going to cheat, wouldn’t they cheat across the board?
Exit question: Assuming no cheating, what’s the real explanation for the results? Better teacher training and more hours devoted to study instead of extracurriculars? Or the ever-present possibility that if you flunk a test designed to enhance Chinese prestige, the punishment awaiting you might be a tad more draconian than detention?
nice - this is just wonderful...
Of course - with 0bama in office - we don’t need to worry - because the socialist elite will take care of everything for us...
“Idiocracy”
The explanation is that as usual, the scores are being used for demagoguery rather than anything useful. If we stopped comparing apples and oranges the picture would be a lot different. Compare the results for Chinese students in China to students of Chinese extraction in the U.S. and there won't be much to talk about. In fact, Chinese-Americans might even have higher scores than students in China.
Do the same for the other ethnic groups. If there were scores for African countries, I guarantee you that blacks in the U.S would have an impresively higher average.
You must remember the Chinese Gov’t is all about “face” and appearances, especially in Shanghai. Its absolutely true that Chinese students are forced to study harder, move at a faster pace, and do much more homework.
At the same time though, remember that Shanghai is China’s most modern and wealthiest city. I have no doubts also that the Shanghai Gov’t arranged for their best schools to take this test.
Someone in the UK told me that African (not African-American, but AFRICAN) students in the UK do better on average than native UK students.
I haven’t checked, but I would assume this is true, the person who told me this is British ( and Anglo-Saxon ).
They’re not cheating. My gal went to Fudan. She taught her daughter the Chinese-style of Math, everyday after school. “The Kid” aced everything, and started Grad School this year at age 20. And college has been essentially free, with only a bit more in taxes because some of the grants are taxable. The Chinese take education very, very seriously.
Please explain: why is comparing the PISA test results an apples and oranges exercise?
Meanwhile American kids are busy working on their American Idol and DWTS auditions...
I think that it would be important to know WHO is taking the tests.
In our state EVERYONE in public schools take the sats. Now that is ridiculous but it does help maintain the panic needed to get more funds for schools.
In many countries, you have to be a high end student to even take the tests.
It goes way beyond that. It is the traditional demand for improvement, without the coddling of the leftists. They are already communist. Here, we are only heading that way! Dumbing the population must come first, for their success!
Looks like our unions and teachers are having their goal in sight!
Because there is a worldwide pattern of difference by ethnic groups. Thus, if a country is composed exclusively or almost so of a high scoring group, it will have high scores. If a country is a mix of groups, it is likely to be in the middle, etc.
This is not politically correct, but alas, it is true.
“Its absolutely true that Chinese students are forced to study harder, move at a faster pace, and do much more homework.”
Because it works.
interesting point. Personally, I would love to see how homeschooled Americans placed compared to other countries.
Quite frankly, I’m surprised the US students didn’t score in the low 100s.
Yeah, but US kids got ‘em beat every way in ‘self esteem’,
putting condoms on cucumbers,texting skills and Lady Gaga trivia.
I have not heard that. IIRC I did read of one test where one of the Middle Eastern groups (Pakistanis, perhaps) outperformed the native Brits.
When you get results like that, it’s generally because the group with the surprising scores is not representative of its population. Rather, it is a self-selected group of higher achievers. The average Pakistani probably has little chance of moving to the UK, so those who are there come from the higher classes.
We are a homeschooled family
I often work with homeschooler.
Homeschoolers are as a whole, as well educated as a private schoolers.
Not any different.
No magic.
And a number of homeschoolers are there because they would not function sucessfully in public or private options.
Always compare apples to apples in stats and this article does not do that.
I bet our kids would kick their butts in football and cheerleading!! We just need to spend more money on our schools and problem solved!
US schools are unionized and lousy. We need Vouchers.
Biggest reason
Average IQ
Asians = 108
Jewish = 105
Caucasians 100
Hispanics = 97
Blacks = 90
Reference “The Bell Curve”
Another element is work ethic - dying in the US due to Nanny state.
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