Why is school so different now than it used to be?

[Anonymous]

I'm a new parent, so I've been out of the loop on primary education for the past 20 years or so. But what I see now seems to be that kids have way more homework than they used to and that kids are expected to start Kindergarten with a far more advanced set of skills. I'm wondering why that is? Is it because there's more to learn than there was 20 or 40 years ago (e.g., they had to fit in computer skills class, science class now involves genetics, etc.)? Do the increased expectation of K follow throughout school (i.e., are 4th graders learning beyond what was expected of 4th graders 20 years ago)? Are teachers having to spend classroom time on other matters such that they aren't able to get through the material and so more of it has to be taken home?

I realize some might be DC-centric where we tend to have high expectations of all our little geniuses, but my friends in other states seem to be experiencing the same thing.

I'm just genuinely curious about this and any thoughts are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but it bums me out. Just wanted to get that in there before the academic dialogue ensues.

I honestly don't think "it" is conferring any benefit at all on kids like mine - middle class child of highly educated parents who love him, live together and have an "enriched" home and weekend life. I don't see why the fact that the South Korean kids are brought to depression and the brink of suicide with math overload should affect my kids' curriculum. It's not the like the South Koreans are lighting up the world.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the internet has spread the word that other people are trying harder than *you* (not specifically you OP) and *you* need to catch up. So maybe all of this competition was a well kept secret. Or maybe now some people believe this? But there can only be the 2% outliers on the bell curve. No matter how much training you put into it, in the end you either have it or you don't. Not saying it's a bad idea to try and be all you can be though. So make the most of those school years! They'll only be kids once and have the rest of their lives to work.

[Anonymous]

As parents we want our kids to go to the best schools. Many people and the governments judge which schools are best by scores on standard tests. School systems require teachers to prepare the kids for the exams. A teacher whose students don't do well on tests is considered a bad teacher. The teachers, therefore, teach towards the test. And the principals demand that teachers do so. Practice test come home earlier each year. So we, the parents changed the schools.

[Anonymous]

Parents of our generation are way more involved with our kids compared to our parents with us, so we talk to anyone who'll listen about little Susie's giftednes or lack thereof, compare, see the "competition", and want our kids to get a leg up on it. So, the merry go round starts early--gotta read, do long division, etc. all before KG.

[Anonymous]

It is because our kids are in the bottom third in math and science among their peers in the industrialized world. That's unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is because our kids are in the bottom third in math and science among their peers in the industrialized world. That's unacceptable.

Why? Is it because we were once on top and have slipped? I guess I just don't care so much how my little cherub measures up to kids in the rest of the world. The recession affects everyone even the smart ones. The only one I want my son compared to is himself. Did he improve from the beginning of the year until the end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is because our kids are in the bottom third in math and science among their peers in the industrialized world. That's unacceptable.

Why? Is it because we were once on top and have slipped? I guess I just don't care so much how my little cherub measures up to kids in the rest of the world. The recession affects everyone even the smart ones. The only one I want my son compared to is himself. Did he improve from the beginning of the year until the end?

We have never been at the top.
But I agree that we over do it, in a most inefficient way.

[Anonymous]

We don't need to be the top. Just be able to attract the top. Like Microsoft-no need to be agile, just buy out potential competitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is because our kids are in the bottom third in math and science among their peers in the industrialized world. That's unacceptable.

Why? Is it because we were once on top and have slipped? I guess I just don't care so much how my little cherub measures up to kids in the rest of the world. The recession affects everyone even the smart ones. The only one I want my son compared to is himself. Did he improve from the beginning of the year until the end?

Not that I think that the latest implementation of "new math" (teaching reading to two year olds) is the right answer, but yes, how your little cherub measures against the rest of the world is important. If you child wants to make a living wage, he now needs to have a college degree, and I don't mean one in underwater basketweaving from Podunk U. If you look at the umemployment statistics, those without college degrees have a far higher unemployment rate than those with. The gap between the "haves" and "have nots" is broadening, and it may be economic, but it is founded in education.

That being said, to the other PP, the South Koreans ARE lighting up the world. You may not know the names of individuals driving the Korean success, but they are at the heals of the Japanese. Who makes your cell phone, your refrigerator, your car, your television? I'd bet you have at least one LG, Samsung, or Hyundai product in your home whether you know it or not. Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, all buy units from Korea and slap their name on it. There is a huge chance that the monitor you are looking at now, even if it says Dell or Vizio, is made by Koreans (probably LG or Samsung) or Taiwanese. The Chinese will soon lap the Koreans. And they are both doing the innovating that Americans did 50 years ago.

We have let our workmanship and work ethic slip (which may explain some bad teachers). The schools' answer is more rigorous curriculums and more homework because we parents can't seem to teach our children workmanship and work ethic anymore. If you don't like it, I suggest home schooling.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I don't necessarily give a crap if my son lights up the world. The Asians are killing their kids with their "work ethic." I'll take a well-educated, happy, hard-working but ALIVE child over a dead one any day. I can think of 10 well-educated friends and family who are out of work (and have been for month-years). All of them but one have advanced degrees. I have a few other family members who recently graduated from grad and undergrad from name schools who are now working for just above minimum wage and living at home. Education is important but it isn't the saving grace that everyone makes it out to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is because our kids are in the bottom third in math and science among their peers in the industrialized world. That's unacceptable.

This is not a correct statement. "The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007 is the fourth comparison of mathematics and science achievement carried out since 1995 by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), an international organization of national research institutions and governmental research agencies. In 2007, 36 countries participated at grade four and 48 participated at grade eight."

"In 2007, the average mathematics scores of both U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students were higher than the TIMSS scale averages.

U.S. fourth-graders scored 529, on average, in mathematics, which was higher than the TIMSS scale average of 500 (table 1).
The average mathematics score of U.S. fourth-graders was higher than those in 23 of the 35 other countries, lower than in 8 countries (all 8 were in Asia or Europe), and not measurably different from the average scores of students in the remaining 4 countries.
U.S. eighth-graders scored 508, on average, in mathematics, which was higher than the TIMSS scale average of 500 (table 1).
The average mathematics score of U.S. eighth-graders was higher than those in 37 of the 47 other countries, lower than in 5 countries (all of them in Asia), and not measurably different from the average scores of students in the remaining 5 countries."

"In 2007, the average science scores of both U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students were higher than the TIMSS scale averages.

U.S. fourth-graders scored 539, on average, in science, which was higher than the TIMSS scale average of 500 (table 3).
The average U.S. fourth-grade science score was higher than those in 25 of the 35 other countries, lower than in 4 countries (all of them in Asia), and not measurably different from 6 countries.
U.S. eighth-graders scored 520, on average, in science, which was higher than the TIMSS scale average of 500 (table 3).
The average U.S. eighth-grade science score was higher than those in 35 of the 47 other countries, lower than in 9 countries (all of them in Asia or Europe), and not measurably different from 3 countries."



http://nces.ed.gov/timss/table07_1.asp

[Anonymous]

20:52, lots of anger there. I'd argue with you but what would be the point.

[Anonymous]

4th grade aged children in the 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st centuries, respectively, predictably have more to learn because there is more to learn and relearn given the exponential increase in knowledge. What's the surprise that kids are doing more in the classroom than we did 20 to 50 years ago? You haven't seen anything yet. Given the pace of technology and the information age imagine what 4th graders will be doing in 2050?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I don't necessarily give a crap if my son lights up the world. The Asians are killing their kids with their "work ethic." I'll take a well-educated, happy, hard-working but ALIVE child over a dead one any day. I can think of 10 well-educated friends and family who are out of work (and have been for month-years). All of them but one have advanced degrees. I have a few other family members who recently graduated from grad and undergrad from name schools who are now working for just above minimum wage and living at home. Education is important but it isn't the saving grace that everyone makes it out to be.

source?