Just Average Academically?

The New York Times breaks down the ugly truth about science and math education in this country after the results of an international assessment of student test scores were published, ranking students from Shanghai, China at the top and American students placing well below 30 other countries. This amounts to yet another wake-up call that we need to improve the state of our education and come together.

As the NYT reports, “The test, the Program for International Student Assessment, known as PISA, was given to 15-year-old students by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based group that includes the world’s major industrial powers.

Further down in the article it states:

“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.”

Not one to be overly pessimistic, I’m stunned too that we actually believe stuff is getting done on our behalf by politicians more interested in politics than doing good. When was the last time heard a politician say that education was the most important problem facing our nation? Yesterday? Well, all the talk amounts to nothing more than lip service. Here’s the proof that while our politicians talk and the teacher’s union doesn’t stand up to those who shouldn’t be in the classroom, our children’s future prospects continue to slip.