RSSU. S. Students Lagging in Math and Science: O.E.C.D. PISA Tests (2000-2003)
Most of the major inventions designed to improve our modern way of life have been invented or perfected by Americans (electricity, steam turbine, corn flakes, light bulbs, telecommunications, modern-day radio, television, the transistor, the microchip, the computer, and the Internet). The U.S. System of advanced education and research has kept us in the position of technology leader for the last century. However, our primary and secondary education programs are falling behind. Every three years, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development tests fifteen-year-olds in math, science, reading and problem solving skills (Program for International Student Assessment). In the 2003 tests, the United States fell to 26th in math and to 20th in science among 32 nations. Even when the comparison is limited to the top tier of students, when compared with top students elsewhere in the world, America’s best math students ranked no better than 25th out of 30 countries.
UPDATED
A sharp eyed reader spotted the 2006 PISA test results which we did not find when we drafted the orginal post. These results are consistent with the 2000 and 2003 results and do not show significant improvement.
In 2006, the results show the average combined science literacy scale score for U.S. students to be lower than the OECD average. U. S. students placed 29 out of 57 countries in science literacy and 35 out of 57 in math literacy.
In 2006, When comparing the performance of the highest achieving students—those at the 90th percentile—U.S. students scored lower (593) than the OECD average (615) on the mathematics literacy scale. Twenty-nine jurisdictions (23 OECD jurisdictions and 6 non-OECD jurisdictions) had students at the 90th percentile with higher scores than the United States on the mathematics literacy scale.
In 2006, When comparing the performance of the highest achieving students—those at the 90th percentile—there was no measurable difference between the average score of U.S. students (628) compared to the OECD average (622) on the combined science literacy scale. Twelve jurisdictions (9 OECD jurisdictions and 3 non-OECD jurisdictions) had students at the 90th percentile with higher scores than the United States on the combined science literacy scale.
33 Responses to “U. S. Students Lagging in Math and Science: O.E.C.D. PISA Tests (2000-2003)”
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June 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
The No Child Left Behind act is a travesty. It is completely wrong-headed, underfunded and apparently is leading to the opposite results of what its supposed intention was. Our educational system is worse than ever. College costs increase by something like 5-7% each year while financial aid decreases drastically. And that’s not even included in this study. I lean towards the left, but I don’t approve of federal level educational mandates. It’s one thing to have a test or two strategically throughout a student’s educational career, but what we do now is teach to the tests. Kids no longer have any analytical skills whatsoever, so it makes sense that they can’t do math or science. Everything is memorization. Our education system is horrendous. I can’t believe they’re teaching Bill O’Reilly as part of their education plan. Sickening. The man is a buffoon. And, while I don’t agree with outlawing home schooling, I am equally appalled at those home-schoolers that are brainwashing their own kids with creationism. So, I’m a bit on the fence with that one. On the one hand, you could have huge improvements in teaching with home schooling, but on the other, you will also end up with a bunch of fundamentalists that are teaching intolerance. I disagree with what California is doing though.
If this trend continues, we’re really down the tubes.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Mr Perot hit the nail on the head here in Texas years ago. No Pass No Play among other things.
Parents had made the schools into a baby sitting service by signing the kids up for any and every after school and extra curricular function without considering what the intent of our school taxes were for: Educating the kids.
If someone could come up with a means of making the parents more resposible for the child’s participation it would make better sense.
God knows the teachers can’t teach and be parents, too. They sure aren’t in it for the high pay. Most teachers are there because they believe they are doing the right thing.
I can not accept placing the fault on the shoulders of the kids or the teachers alone. The parents are as much as fault as our educational system.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
As some of the more fevered responses above prove we need to be teaching all kids critical thinking skills. Math and Science are very important but beyond the very basic courses only reach ~20% of the students and yet sociatial decisions are made by the majority.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
When the poor or ignorant or stupid have far more children than the rich or savvy or smart is it really a surprise that US education is going downhill so fast? There are lots of ignorant parents who don’t even think that an education is important. Students of these type of parents bring everyone down to their level. Throwing more money at the parents, the students or the teachers does not generally solve this problem.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
In response to billf3, it’s not a class problem about education – the middle class and the wealthy have the same issue – they don’t spend time with their children – too many families where both spouses work, and the wealthy are busy, well, getting wealthy – the kids have so many extra-curricular activities these days that the parents are more like chaperones – read a book? My nephews hate it – it takes too much time, they can’t read fast enough, and it interferes with soccer practice. Parents need to understand that along with the privilege of having a family comes the heavy responsibility of being a parent; and that includes demanding less sports, less iPod time, less texting, cell-phone, and computer gaming time, and more one-on-one interaction, reading, parent-child activities. I agree with billf3 on one disturbing trend which is rewarding students, parents and teachers for better grades; I heard an astonishing news story this morning that somewhere they were giving away vacations and free cars to those students who maintained perfect attendance (students were able to enter a contest if they maintained perfect attendance). My incentive to go to school wasn’t a reward, it was the threat of discipline by my parents if I didn’t…. I don’t know if “fixing” the above issues will result in an increase in rankings for the youth of the U.S., but it would be a good start.