3 ms·

Those types are comparisons are fundamentally worthless. You generally can't compare averages across school systems as often systemic things are quite differen

Those types are comparisons are fundamentally worthless. You generally can't compare averages across school systems as often systemic things are quite different, such as who is even permitted to take the test. Additionally data I've seen puts the US at the 75%ile once you adjust demographically for whites (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-EMpadQx4hM/TRKVzaSdWnI/AAAAAAAAAYs/26q8mk1dT3M/s1600/PISA.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-EMpadQx4hM/TRKVzaSdWnI/AAAAAAAAAY...). That means the US isn't bad, but it's certainly not stellar. Considering how often I see on the news people saying the US is the best country in the world I'd think we'd rank above Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. And we're not even playing the same sport as Finland. Judging teachers without accounting for the students they happen to teach is rather unfair. But because race and ethnicity are totally essential to understanding this it's unmentionable. Who doesn't talk about race? Every major conference I've seen on this issue discusses race. After unions, it's probably the single biggest issue discussed among policy makers in ths US.

yummyfajitas 15y ago
I don't know who claims the US is the best in the world, but we are certainly close to the top. We score 6 points below Canada (530 vs 524) and 1 point below Germany (at 525). Rankings make sporting events exciting because they exaggerate small differences. They are less useful when looking at statistics for the same reason.
nitrogen 15y ago
Who doesn't talk about race? Every major conference I've seen on this issue discusses race. After unions, it's probably the single biggest issue discussed among policy makers in ths US. Maybe the OP was suggesting that the typical discussion of race focuses on the racial achievement gap, while ignoring the performance difference between American immigrants of an individual race and their fellow students in their native countries.

yummyfajitas 15y ago

I don't know who claims the US is the best in the world, but we are certainly close to the top. We score 6 points below Canada (530 vs 524) and 1 point below Germany (at 525). Rankings make sporting events exciting because they exaggerate small differences. They are less useful when looking at statistics for the same reason.

nitrogen 15y ago

Who doesn't talk about race? Every major conference I've seen on this issue discusses race. After unions, it's probably the single biggest issue discussed among policy makers in ths US. Maybe the OP was suggesting that the typical discussion of race focuses on the racial achievement gap, while ignoring the performance difference between American immigrants of an individual race and their fellow students in their native countries.