What Is Causing America 's Academic Shortcomings? Essay

The need to succeed hinders students from finding their true potential. For years, headlines have read "American students are behind other international students." In Gerald W. Bracey’s article, Are U.S. Students Behind?: "American students look better in international tests than the critics would have us believe, and the schools have little to do with the "competitiveness" of economy" (Bracey 1). The government is pressuring students to do better than other country counter parts for no other reason than to fulfill their own agenda. "One reason why Americans believe their children compare poorly to foreign students is that for 12 years, the Reagan and Bush administration promoted a conservative agenda hostile to the public schools and gave bad news about education far more publicity than good news" (Bracey 2). This was a result from the race between the Russians and Americans in the space program. The government’s own agenda abolished the whole concept of being patient with students.

The American education system needs to change techniques in order to successfully prepare students for success in today’s world. American students are reportedly averaging some of the lowest test scores on the PISA test. This is mentioned in Amanda Ripley’s book the Smartest Kids in the World when it’s stated “Failure in American schools was demoralizing…American kids could not handle routine failure” (pg.72 par.4). This statement is a clear sign that the techniques used in the American education system to promote academic success in students need amending. There is definitely a change that needs to happen within the American educational system this is the only way to ensure that American students will be equipped with the tools they require

Chapter 4 describes Tom’s school experience in Pennsylvania and Poland, and discussed the relationship between math and many American students. Tom did not like math and thought he was not good at it. When he was asked to solve a problem in his class in Poland, he tried to make an excuse to avoid going to the board to solve it, which the book hinted typically worked in his American classes. However, he was still asked to solve the problem, which he could not do. The book explained that math is a difficult subject for many American students, and that on the PISA assessment American students score pretty low. Despite the bad reputation of American students being bad at math, the state of Minnesota ranked proficient in math. Overall, the chapter explained why students struggle in math and what Minnesota did to produce high test scores (Ripley, 2013).

Since the release of the annual report by Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in December of 2010, many in the government and community are searching for ways to reform the American education system to give American students a greater opportunity to succeed. According to the report, one cannot ignore the fact that American students are not testing as high academically as other nations in the world (Duncan, 2010). There are many contributing elements that have brought America to her knees in the education system, however, the obsession with standardized testing is found to be more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone in the education system. To understand how to rectify the problem, we must look at all the facts

Although the United States is one of the most highly industrialized nations in the world, students in many other industrialized nations are outperforming U.S. students in various academic areas. As a result, the U.S. has implemented standard-based reform, and its educational costs have soared. No longer are American graduates competing with each other for jobs, in the present global economy, they also are competing with graduates from other industrialized nations, many of whom are preforming at higher academic levels in reading, math, science, and problem solving as measured by their performance on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) (“FactSheet”1-2). The PISA is an assessment that is administered every three years to fifteen year old students in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development) countries. The OECD consists of the world’s highly industrialized nations that comprise more than 85% of the world’s economy. (West 2) The PISA was first administered in 2000, and it has been administered every three years since that time. This assessment measures student performance in the areas of reading, mathematics and science. The 2003 and 2012 administrations of the PISA also measured students’ problem solving. On the 2009 administration of the PISA, U.S. students preformed below average in the academic areas of math and science compared to students in other OECD countries (West 2). In math, the U.S. trailed seventeen OECD countries and

Since the release of the annual report by Program for International Student Assessment in December of 2010, many in the government and community are searching for ways to reform the American education system to give American students a greater opportunity to succeed. According to the report, one cannot ignore the fact that American students are not testing as high academically as other nations in the world. There are many contributing elements that have brought America to her knees in the education system, however, the obsession with standardized testing is found to be more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone in the education system. To understand how to rectify the problem, we must look at all the facts presented to us, compare

(Audience Hook)When someone shows a chart of the top 10 scoring nations and economies worldwide in the field of education, the USA doesn’t even reach the list. According to the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) the US scores below average in Math; Science and Reading scores don’t look all that impressive, either.

Ever since the establishment of modern schooling in 1911, experts have debated on the best ways to educate a child. Whether it be through teacher lectures, group discussions, or individual study, the importance of educational methods cannot be understated. Yet, contrary to our emphasis on education, the United States is ranked 35th in mathematics and 27th in science out the of the 64 countries examined by a Pew Research study in 2015. George Bush tried to counteract this historical trend in 2001 with the “No Child Left Behind Act”, which paved the way for the establishment of Common Core State Standards throughout the country. These standards aim to improve education through “common” assessments and

Standardized testing has for so long been the determinant of success and progress in many school systems around the world. Students get exposure to standardized tests at one point or the other, and the result from these tests are used to determine if a student can advance to a higher level or not (Moore, 2014). The school system in the United States has in place standardized tests for students who wish to join college and this need to be taken and passed for one to be sure of a college education. Even at lower levels of learning standardized tests remain to be the primary determinants of one’s performances, and in many instances, failure of standardized tests may be the reason why one is retained in the same class for a second consecutive

Standardized testing has lowered student achievement in the past several years. “The US has slipped from 18th in the world in math in 2002, to 31st place in 2009” (Walker). Something needs to be done, because a good education is how Americans succeed. American children are losing a battle with education because of these high stakes testing. The original purpose of the tests is “to ensure that all children have a fair and equal opportunity to obtain high-quality education at minimum proficiency on State standards” (“Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged”). But, the test anxiety is becoming more prevalent, and is keeping students from performing their best (Kohn).

Standardized tests are not improving education in America. Since the mid-1800s standardized tests have been a part of American education. After 2002’s No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated annual testing in all 50 states their use skyrocketed. US students slipped from 18th in the world in math in 2000 to 31st place in 2009. As of 2014 America has been ranked 14th in education out of 30 countries. Standardized tests stifle creativity and imagination the classroom. A three-year study completed in Oct. 2010 by the Gesell Institute of Human Development showed that increased emphasis on testing is making "children feel like failures now as early as PreK..." The over emphasizing of testing has led to a decrease in projects and activities which

Should Americans increase their students’ math and science achievement? American students rank 27th in math and 20th in science on international exams, when compared to other countries. Americans should study and practice the teachings of other countries whose students have higher math and science achievement.

The most recent was done in 2015, with the U.S., unsurprisingly, falling behind several countries in every single subject. The test evaluates seventy-two countries, but of the 35 nations in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), the state’s rank 30th in math and 24th in science (Pew Research); an almost embarrassing ranking given the near boastful and arrogant vibe America gives off. The fact is, America has never been a country that tests well. It’s never been a country that has placed first in international research and tests (Washington Post, Valerie Strauss July 2, 2012). The difference between America and other countries that don’t impress on tests, is that America cares about education. Or at least, they pretend to. They market themselves as a nation that does. Every year politicians come up with plans and spout reasons why the system is bad, or proof that they can fix it. So the question is why hasn’t anything

     You would think that America being number one in almost everything; education would be at the top of that list. Well compared to other countries in the world it really sucks. The Asian educational system is among the top in the world. They are the leaders in math and sciences. Do you

As a result of this, the system is constantly receiving criticism concerning the quality of the American system. (U.S.D.E. The Educational System in the U.S…) In fact, a recent study done by the National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and Assessment, states that in fourth grade math, Japan ranks third out of twenty-six countries while the U.S. ranks only twelfth, and that in eighth grade math, Japan keeps the ranking of third out of forty-one, while the U.S. drops to twenty-eighth. As result of these criticisms, sets of voluntary guidelines and standard achievement tests have recently been introduced as an effort to “catch up” to the other