While the news is not all bad, the results and implications of those results from the study are:
- Money spent is NOT the problem, at least in terms of dollars per student.
- How the money is allocated and spent may well be an issue.
- While test scores are improving, the gap between the ends of the socio-economic spectrum is widening. (More study is needed however in order to determine whether the increase in test scores can be attributed to an increase in performance or other reasons endemic to the test taking; i.e. easier tests.)
- Educational attainment is dropping both at the high school level and college level.
- Not only is college performance down in the U.S. but the drop-out rate, is nearly double of the rest of the world.
There is a growing debate in the U.S. concerning the efficacy of the "Common Core" initiative. While there may well be issues with this initiative, the decline in U.S. academic performance far predates Common Core.
The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representative Thomas "Tip" O'Neill coined the phrase, "All politics is local." Perhaps the same is true for education. While national standards may make it easier to compare test scores and attempt to ensure a standard curriculum, do these kinds of national initiatives result in a student better equipped to function in an ever-increasing internationally competitive world?
What can we do as parents and teachers and administrators, in our homes, classrooms and communities to help begin to stem the tide of academic mediocrity? While each community and in fact family situation is different, and while not attempting to address every societal influence on poor academic performance here, some of the following tips may have value:
- Stay involved with your student. Monitor their progress. Ask the tough questions.
- Stay involved and communicate with the parents of your child's peers. Share your concerns and questions. There is strength in numbers.
- Communicate often with your child's teachers. Parent/teacher conferences don't have to happen only when the formal meetings occur. If your concerns are not satisfactorily addressed contact your school's administration or even school board immediately.
- Continue your own formal and informal education in the areas that your student is studying. Yes, this can be challenging. Taking an active interest such as this may well have a positive influence on your child and you might learn something also!
- Teach your child how to function effectively in "large student" classes. Encourage your student to ask questions. Explain to your student that asking questions is not a sign of ignorance; it is just the opposite. It shows a willingness to learn.
- Don't wait till your student has a test to realize that they need help. Find out who the local tutors are in your community. Encourage your student to work in groups with their classmates.
- Prioritization. You and the student need to understand that they can't do everything they want to do and still excel in their schoolwork. Some activities may have to be foregone in order for your student to have the time needed to learn their trade (their schoolwork). As a tutor I regularly see the mindset that studying = homework. This is simply not true. Our students need to review their notes and readings even though they don't have homework. If YOU don't teach this principle, it won't happen. The teachers have too many students to check each student's progress on a daily basis. Yes, that means you need to be able to, for example, discuss the reasons of the breakup of the Soviet Union with your student, when studying that topic.
The next article in this installment will address the implications of the falling educational and literacy ranking of U.S. adults compared to those around the world.
