Urban schools are either really terrible or really competitive, nothing in between.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The National Assessment of Educational Progress ("The Nation's Report Card") found that nearly half of high school seniors are testing below a basic level in both subjects, with reading scores hitting a historic low since testing began in 1992.

Have you compared the same clusters to the bottom of the rest of the world?

If you compare the top students globally, I’m fairly confident that the best students in the U.S. can easily outperform those from other countries. First, top U.S. students tend to be exceptionally skilled at multitasking, unlike many top students abroad who focus solely on academics. We also have top students who are Olympiad medalists and others who begin their entrepreneurial journeys at a very young age.

You just can’t oversimplify things by saying that young people are “dumb.” That’s such an irresponsible and generalized statement — it completely overlooks the talent, creativity, and drive that so many young people demonstrate every day.

What gives you this confidence? I have a niece and nephew in another country and I know there is no way my own kids (who are among the best students in their high school) could compete with them. The other system is brutal and to become the best demands a type of hard work my own kids never needed to do.

Anonymous wrote:Not all American youth are uneducated or incapable. Recent posts and social media narratives paint a this picture — suggesting that America’s future is doomed and that only immigrants can fill skilled jobs. This is simply not true.

Despite the shortcomings of the K–12 education system, many intelligent, hardworking, and talented young Americans continue to excel across a wide range of fields — including the children of immigrants.

Please stop spreading the false narrative that Americans are “dumb.” The challenges posed by technology (games or social media obsessions) and modern society exist everywhere, not just in the United States.

Most young people I meet in real life are quite impressive. On social media, most look shallow and dumb. Its a contrast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to believe this has to be spelled out, but the fact that some kids are poorly educated does not mean that all kids are poorly educated.

That is a major “whataboutism.”

As recently as 2009 (and possibly later), DC had an adult illiteracy problem: 36% of adult residents of D.C. were unable to read.

That is an illiteracy rate worse than most third-world countries. It’s really irrelevant that D.C. is home to our government, the Obamas, some of the most elite PRIVATE schools, Georgetown, etc.

Since its creation in 1980, the U.S. spent billions on the federal “Department of Education.”

And yet, educational outcomes are far worse today, and falling.

Anonymous wrote:Response to COVID proved we have done a serious disservice the USA citizens in the field of science. It’s not just the youth. So many people just don’t have the knowledge to understand basic scientific facts.
It’s time we fixed that.

But nobody who could wants to do that thankless work.

Anonymous wrote:Hard to believe this has to be spelled out, but the fact that some kids are poorly educated does not mean that all kids are poorly educated.

That is a major “whataboutism.”

As recently as 2009 (and possibly later), DC had an adult illiteracy problem: 36% of adult residents of D.C. were unable to read.

That is an illiteracy rate worse than most third-world countries. It’s really irrelevant that D.C. is home to our government, the Obamas, some of the most elite PRIVATE schools, Georgetown, etc.

Response to COVID proved we have done a serious disservice the USA citizens in the field of science. It’s not just the youth. So many people just don’t have the knowledge to understand basic scientific facts.
It’s time we fixed that.

Anonymous wrote:CNN:

“She graduated from a Connecticut High School with Honors, But She Cannot Read”

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/27/us/connecticut-aleysha-ortiz-illiterate-lawsuit-cec

Weird because the article states that she received a college scholarship.

Regardless, this case is not really on point as the subject was & is a special needs student. Not excusing the failure, but I think that this thread is about the education system for all students.

Anonymous wrote:CNN:

“She graduated from a Connecticut High School with Honors, But She Cannot Read”

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/27/us/connecticut-aleysha-ortiz-illiterate-lawsuit-cec

What about the Math or Physics competition winners? What about sports competitions? The bottom does not represent all

At 23 different Baltimore city high schools, 0% of the students tested academically proficient:

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/project-baltimore/at-13-baltimore-city-high-schools-zero-students-tested-proficient-on-2023-state-math-exam

That is over 40% of the students tested population.

Hard to believe this has to be spelled out, but the fact that some kids are poorly educated does not mean that all kids are poorly educated.

Anonymous wrote:The National Assessment of Educational Progress ("The Nation's Report Card") found that nearly half of high school seniors are testing below a basic level in both subjects, with reading scores hitting a historic low since testing began in 1992.

Have you compared the same clusters to the bottom of the rest of the world?

If you compare the top students globally, I’m fairly confident that the best students in the U.S. can easily outperform those from other countries. First, top U.S. students tend to be exceptionally skilled at multitasking, unlike many top students abroad who focus solely on academics. We also have top students who are Olympiad medalists and others who begin their entrepreneurial journeys at a very young age.

You just can’t oversimplify things by saying that young people are “dumb.” That’s such an irresponsible and generalized statement — it completely overlooks the talent, creativity, and drive that so many young people demonstrate every day.

CNN:

“She graduated from a Connecticut High School with Honors, But She Cannot Read”

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/27/us/connecticut-aleysha-ortiz-illiterate-lawsuit-cec

The National Assessment of Educational Progress ("The Nation's Report Card") found that nearly half of high school seniors are testing below a basic level in both subjects, with reading scores hitting a historic low since testing began in 1992.

Not all American youth are uneducated or incapable. Recent posts and social media narratives paint a this picture — suggesting that America’s future is doomed and that only immigrants can fill skilled jobs. This is simply not true.

Despite the shortcomings of the K–12 education system, many intelligent, hardworking, and talented young Americans continue to excel across a wide range of fields — including the children of immigrants.

Please stop spreading the false narrative that Americans are “dumb.” The challenges posed by technology (games or social media obsessions) and modern society exist everywhere, not just in the United States.