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I think the big question mark here is what are we supposed to be accomplishing with our education system? Are we going for equality or maximum output? To get

by amohr 17y ago

I think the big question mark here is what are we supposed to be accomplishing with our education system? Are we going for equality or maximum output? To get more total productivity out of graduates, there's a huge crop of low-hanging fruit in the form of unchallenged gifted students. If we're aiming for equality, then we have to rely on a cultural motivation to get the above-average students to go out of their way to challenge themselves. As a once gifted student myself, I find this to be highly unlikely.

CWuestefeld 17y ago
To the extent that education is sold as "we're investing in the future of our society", then it seems to me that we'd want to concentrate just as much -- if not more -- on those that will be leaders, captains of industry, etc., as those that we're trying to just keep their heads above water. Are we building a nation that's prepared to just muddle along, or are we building a nation that, at least at its fore, will continue to excel (while hopefully lifting all boats in the rising tide)?
electromagnetic 17y ago
My question has always been, why is the US dropout rate at ~30% country wide, but Canada has a figure marginally above 10%. What is the social norm that's having a huge effect on these children's ability to stay in school? This isn't mentioning that even American institutions recognize that Canadian children are better educated. Even the sports scouts who hand out college scholarships say that while American students need an 80% to apply, Canadians only need a 60% because the educational standard in Canada is higher. How can a country consider its education system even passable, if the standard of its high school graduates with 100% is worse than any Canadian kid on the honour roll?
- tokenadult 17y ago
  why is the US dropout rate at ~30% country wide, but Canada has a figure marginally above 10%. Source for those figures? Are we sure that the school-leaving age is the same in both countries?

by amohr 17y ago

CWuestefeld 17y ago

To the extent that education is sold as "we're investing in the future of our society", then it seems to me that we'd want to concentrate just as much -- if not more -- on those that will be leaders, captains of industry, etc., as those that we're trying to just keep their heads above water. Are we building a nation that's prepared to just muddle along, or are we building a nation that, at least at its fore, will continue to excel (while hopefully lifting all boats in the rising tide)?

electromagnetic 17y ago

My question has always been, why is the US dropout rate at ~30% country wide, but Canada has a figure marginally above 10%. What is the social norm that's having a huge effect on these children's ability to stay in school? This isn't mentioning that even American institutions recognize that Canadian children are better educated. Even the sports scouts who hand out college scholarships say that while American students need an 80% to apply, Canadians only need a 60% because the educational standard in Canada is higher. How can a country consider its education system even passable, if the standard of its high school graduates with 100% is worse than any Canadian kid on the honour roll?

tokenadult 17y ago
why is the US dropout rate at ~30% country wide, but Canada has a figure marginally above 10%. Source for those figures? Are we sure that the school-leaving age is the same in both countries?