POSTED ON BEHALF OF DOUG

The endless denial that poverty is the root of the problem is tiresome

PISA themselves says that poverty is the problem combined with concentrations of poverty. In other words if one nation is 10% poor but spread out everywhere is better than a country that is 10% poor but the poverty is concentrated is small places.

http://nasspblogs.org/principaldifference/2010/12/pisa_its_poverty_not_stupid_1.html

Interesting the denial of the decreases in reading, math and science in Canada, by the public education stakeholders. Interesting how Finland is following the same pattern as Canada.

The data from 2000 to 2009 can be interpreted for Canada, that the provincial education systems have done little in the area of improving and raising the reading, math and science levels of ALL students, despite the steady increases in education funding.

One can also that increases in students who are immigrants for both Finland and Canada, there was no change for student performance without an immigrant background in Finland. But in Canada there was a decrease in student performance for student performance without an immigrant background. This is significant because it tells us two things. First education funding is moving away from Canadian students towards the immigrant students. The second thing, the adult literacy and numeracy levels of Canada - have been showing the same trends since the 1990s of increasing numbers of Canadian adults having low literacy and numeracy levels compared to the immigrants. Finland is following the same trend in adult literacy and numeracy levels, although at a lower level than Canada.

Which goes back to the original interpretation, that Canada has done little since 2000 to raised ALL students performance levels in reading, math and science. The education programs and policies of Canada are not the kind to improved overall economic and social standards of Canada, when there is a steady declined in reading, math and science performance among Canadian students.

POSTED ON BEHALF OF DOUG

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/canada-is-not-becoming-outclassed/article4082381/

We have NOTHING to worry about. Massive new ADK and childcare could shoot us to the very top.

POSTED ON BEHALF OF DOUG

Why do Asians do well in math? Well, I am with Asians all day every day. I have visited their schools all over China and Hong Kong. It sure isn’t racial but it is cultural/educational.

Here are the reasons that Asians familiar with western education tell me. (no order)

1) Most Asian countries use math specialist teachers from primary to grade 12. math is compulsory every year.

2) In Chinese 20 means “2 tens” 30 means ‘3 tens” and so forth so a Chinese sees 36+23= and thinks 30+20=50 6+3=9 =59 This gives them a running strt in math.

3) Every student must take math to grade 12

4) Westerners have a 5-6 hour school day. Easterners have 10-12 hour school day until well into the evening supervised.Koreans tutorials until 10pm.

5) Math based STEM professions are highly valued

6) Only academics counts or pleases parents in school. No points for marching band or sports unless academics comes 1st. (Although playing an instrument is valued).

7) You will eventually have to pass the Gao Cow exam partly math or no university for you.

8) Metric system (USA still in Imperial in 2013 for heaven’s sake)

We can adapt to any or all of these Asian norms but not easily. Obviously some more easily than others.

Bill Gates solution is simply to pressure congress to allow him to import more and more Asians (including south Asians).
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