Comments on: “A National Embarrassment” http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/12/a-national-embarrassment/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:10:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Claus http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/12/a-national-embarrassment/#comment-4464 Claus Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:12:06 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=816#comment-4464 Compton's comments take us well beyond the realm of school reform and into the realm of cultural transformation. How do we inspire widespread esteem for intellectual achievement--for learning--both in and beyond schools? Compton’s comments take us well beyond the realm of school reform and into the realm of cultural transformation. How do we inspire widespread esteem for intellectual achievement–for learning–both in and beyond schools?

]]> By: Rachel http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/12/a-national-embarrassment/#comment-4447 Rachel Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:41:04 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=816#comment-4447 One thing to be careful of in these comparisons is that the actual Olympics looks at standout individuals, and the "Education Olympics" page looks at percentages. Olympic medal counts favor high population countries, and countries that are willing to put resources (either public or private)into the work of high achieving individuals. In contrast, the percentage ranking of the Education Olympics give no advantage to large countries and favor countries who put resources into high average achievement. I suspect if you looked at the rankings of the highest achievement individuals in academic areas, U.S. performance would look much better. And likewise, I suspect that if you compared the athletic prowess of the average U.S. student to students in other countries, U.S. athletic performance wouldn't look as good as its Olympic medal count. One thing to be careful of in these comparisons is that the actual Olympics looks at standout individuals, and the “Education Olympics” page looks at percentages.

Olympic medal counts favor high population countries, and countries that are willing to put resources (either public or private)into the work of high achieving individuals. In contrast, the percentage ranking of the Education Olympics give no advantage to large countries and favor countries who put resources into high average achievement.

I suspect if you looked at the rankings of the highest achievement individuals in academic areas, U.S. performance would look much better. And likewise, I suspect that if you compared the athletic prowess of the average U.S. student to students in other countries, U.S. athletic performance wouldn’t look as good as its Olympic medal count.

]]> By: tm willemse http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/08/12/a-national-embarrassment/#comment-4441 tm willemse Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:51:47 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=816#comment-4441 We do not have a compulsory public athlete training system. By the same token, not one of our Olympic athletes comes out of the compulsory public schools. Our Olympic athletes are trained privately and supported by their parents with a huge financial/personal commitment. Not every one of our compulsory public education students is as proportionately talented as our Olympic athletes. Half of them are below average, and that average is pretty low. A seriously solid chunk of our compulsory public school students damn well resent the fact that you even expect them to perform! Fine. In this country if you don’t want to learn, you aren’t compelled to. Olympic athletes are where they are because they have both talent and desire. An Olympic athlete who fails to perform goes home a loser. A compulsory public school student who fails to perform falls into one of this country’s wonderful social safety nets, or perhaps ends up in prison; some don’t see a difference. Bob, you really shouldn’t try to pack your bags and write at the same time as both efforts wind up a shambles. We do not have a compulsory public athlete training system. By the same token, not one of our Olympic athletes comes out of the compulsory public schools. Our Olympic athletes are trained privately and supported by their parents with a huge financial/personal commitment. Not every one of our compulsory public education students is as proportionately talented as our Olympic athletes. Half of them are below average, and that average is pretty low. A seriously solid chunk of our compulsory public school students damn well resent the fact that you even expect them to perform! Fine. In this country if you don’t want to learn, you aren’t compelled to. Olympic athletes are where they are because they have both talent and desire. An Olympic athlete who fails to perform goes home a loser. A compulsory public school student who fails to perform falls into one of this country’s wonderful social safety nets, or perhaps ends up in prison; some don’t see a difference.
Bob, you really shouldn’t try to pack your bags and write at the same time as both efforts wind up a shambles.

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