Let’s stop the whining about not getting enough money for education. We’ve already more than doubled per-pupil inflation-adjusted spending since the early 1970s, with little or nothing to show for it. Instead we need to work harder - parents, pupils, and professionals.
Longer school day and year, higher expectations, more homework, and greater respect for education and those educated: Those are the ‘secrets’ of Asian parents, pupils, and schools, all while spending far less than in America.
Time to follow what works, and drop what hasn’t for decades.
Loyd Eskildson
Scottsdale
Dale Whiting posted at 8:59 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
Perhaps any nation's greatest resource is its children. Do we value this resource like we should? Do we devote careful research and study and wisely devote resources to the development of this resource in ways that are equal to if not surperior to other nations who compete with us?
When I attended ASU in the early 80's many if not most of my fellow engineering students were foreigners. Many hoped to remain here after graduation for employment. Now we still have lots of foreign students, but they have to leave after graduation. Why were foreign students admitted to ASU in such large numbers? They were better students, often outshining the native students. Why were they better? That's what we need to discover.
Let's have Mike tell us where education, particularly public education, can be improved. Having put three kids through public school, I have my ideas on what was wrong. And it has next to nothing to do with spending more dollars [except perhaps on teacher salaries - a disgrace for sure].
And as we discover how to improve, let's all help Leon benefit from a real education.
JMJ posted at 9:44 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
For one, in poor Asian countries, the entire population is not educated. Millions of citizens are overlooked. The creme de la creme rise to the top. The pressure and competition is so intense that students commit suicide if they feel they have shamed their families with any grades less than perfect grades. Asian parents in the USA do have successful students, by and large, who outperform peers of other ethnic backgrounds. One of my kids used to come home [this child, a mathematician at birth], and say, "I beat the Chinese kids in math, today!" That was a badge of honor for my kid--because it was evident that Asian students took their schooling seriously [as did my kid].
It has to start in the HOME, as I have said. Family emphasis on education is critical to student success no matter the ethnicity. Money, however, is also critical to student success because resources are necessary to be able to reach students who may not have that foundation, at home, and multiple approaches and methods need to be employed to reach students whose learning styles are more complex than others'.
Sure, keep what "works" and throw out the rest. It isn't that simple. Everyone's a teacher, right? Just like everyone's a drummer. Education is not a simple process, and simpletons shouldn't be spouting simple ways to solve the situation.
It's not as simle as a longer school day. I do agree success, in anything, comes from 10,000 hours of practice. The "longer" needs to be the practice part, not the school day. Students who are athletes practice hours and hours at their sport. Students who are scholars "practice" hours and hours, as well.
Parents are the linchpin in this whole process. It does take the three participants in one's education to achieve success: Parent, pupil and professional. Parent and professional guide and provide.
Pupil has to practice.
Simple, right?
sockratties posted at 1:21 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
JMJ - good comment. There is something to be said for letting the professionals do the job of educating. Teaching is one of those skills that can rise to the level of art when done right. Yes, everyone thinks they are an expert while they often are only critics and Monday morning quarterbacks.
While letting pros do the job we have to be sure we’re evaluating results based on meaningful data. We need to determine if the product (student after learning minus student before learning) is worth the resources provided. If not, we must determine where the environment, students, parents or teachers fall short.
I have seen the environment (schools, technology, transportation, equipment) and believe that part is well covered. Teachers I know and interact with seem to be capable, dedicated and motivated.
I encounter new groups of students each semester. They are more distracted than I remember from when I was in school, mostly by media and technology. These challenges are encountered by teachers and parents as well as the students themselves.
As JMJ mentioned, family participation is essential. Family intervention can also help minimize the cell phone/texting/social-media/internet frenzy that interrupts study and shrinks attention spans into sub-minute durations.
I don’t know how it might be accomplished, but parents also need guidance regarding their role in the education of their kids. This should occur before the children leave elementary school. We can’t assume that parents innately have this knowledge or skill set. Perhaps a course could be offered that would enable parents to effectively participate in the education of their children while creating a partnership between parents and teachers.
truth posted at 2:08 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.
The U.S. ranking on education, reading 33rd out of 33, math 27th out of 33, science 22nd out of 33. U.S. ranking on standard of living 13th.
Dale Whiting posted at 5:50 am on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.
JMJ,
Yes, it does begin at home. And yes, Asian homes are serious about schooling. I know a lady who works in "special education" at the high school level. Single moms, moms who used alcohol and drugs, etc. take a huge toll on our youth. Yet some of us would prohibit educating these moms to avoid pregnancy and stay off of drugs.
The problem is a whole lot bigger than any of us know! So let's do some more thinking fellas. So far you thinking is shallow at best!
sockratties posted at 8:52 am on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.
Dale... Your thinking stops at your gender gap. What makes you believe it should just be the "fellas" who do more thinking? Do you expect to come riding in on your big white charger and save these helpless, drug infested, pregnant maidens from the evils of the world? How about dead-beat dads who don't take responsibility, or school dropouts that repeat mistakes generations after generation.
In poor 3rd world countries educating and empowering females has more effectively improved living conditions by reducing disease and unwanted pregnancies than working with male populations. Perhaps sharing the “thinking” part would be more effective too. A Freudian slip on your part?
War, poverty, financial greed, exploitation of the poor and abandonment of family typically are male dominated conditions. Looking to the aggressors to solve the problem is part of the problem.
Congress, the Supreme Court and big religion (majority = old, white, male) are making decisions for women and the results are just what you describe.
Cerulean posted at 10:24 am on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.
In Arizona we treat education like a ‘belief’. Money is transferred from one legislators 'belief' to another. The intent is not ot to provide better education to the whole of Arizona but because “free money” as Sen. Yarbrough would say, can be had.
See: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/20120305taxpayer-money-senate-finance.html
It is hard to take any conversation about education in Arizona seriously.
VofReason posted at 2:17 pm on Mon, Dec 10, 2012.
JMJ says "It has to start in the HOME, as I have said. Family emphasis on education is critical to student success no matter the ethnicity. " This is absolutely true. If not in place, all the funding in the world won't change it. Offer classes for parents to tell them their role in their childs education? I think this is what we call parent teacher night or just good old common sense. Kids effected by technology, ie cellphones, tablets etc etc. Yes and as far as I know, most children don't have enough money to buy them for themselves. Lets face it, if society feels responsible for themselves and therefore their family and kids, they will do what is necessary. If not, funding, promices by politicians, and free lunch won't change the outcome.