The results of the PISA exams, administered worldwide to about half a million 15 year olds, were released on December 3rd.
The United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, stated that the scores for American students were flat and reflected a “picture of educational stagnation” – basically saying American test scores were limp and showed no growth.
As expected, Asian countries scored very high – and showed firm growth. Shanghai, an affluent part of China, scored at the top along with other regulars like Singapore and Korea.
This has led to a serious case of PISA envy for many Western countries fearful that the high test scores in Asia are an omen that these countries will be producing the leaders of tomorrow – in business and innovation.
According to the lobbyist organizations that helped sponsor PISADay.org, the American education system is deflated – just not up to the task.
Improving the American education system through higher test scores means seeking to emulate the success story coming out of Asia. Fortunately, we need not look to Asia to emulate Asia.
Since 2005, the average SAT score for white students has fallen 4 points, and other ethnic groups have seen scores fall up to 22 points. The exception to this is the Asian-American student population where scores have risen 41 points in general.
According to the US census, in the Asian-American population 25 years and over, 1 in 5 have received a graduate or professional degree. That’s compared to 1 in 10 for the same white population age group; other ethnic groups were below 10 percent.
Asian-Americans make up about between 5 and 6 percent of the nation’s population, but Asian-American students make up 12 to 18 percent of the student population at Ivy League schools. According to a New York Times article, Asian-American students are the largest ethnic group in top high schools around the nation where admissions are based on exams.
These are American students, in American schools.
The fetish over PISA makes for good press, but not good education.
Despite never being in the top tier of test taker nations – America has somehow managed to produce more Nobel Laureates than any other nation. But if America feels it comes up short in comparison to the scores in Asia, we can look to Asian-American students who have been raised and educated in America.
That’s only really necessary for those who suffer from PISA Envy….For those in America with an obsession over the PISA exam, they simply need to look over the fence of their own backyard for answers…To paraphrase Cassius, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our schools, But in ourselves…”
Submitted by Charles McCormick
Links:
http://therealsingapore.com/content/rjc-student-exam-stress-gave-me-depression-study-so-much-what
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/12/03/my-view-of-the-pisa-scores/
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/12/03/inside-the-long-island-parent-rebellion-against-common-core/