They are up to 3 years above peers in the West.

Sydney: Western school children are up to three years behind those in Shanghai, and success in Asian education is not just the product of pushy 'Tiger Parents', an Australian report released yesterday.

The study by independent think-tank Grattan Institute said East Asia was the center of high-performance in school's, with four of the worlds top systems in the region- Hong Kong, South Korea, Shanghai and Singapore.

"In Shanghai, the average 15 yr old - mathmatics student is performing at a level two to three times above his or her counterpart in Australia, the United States and Europe. That has profound consequences. As economic power is shifting from West to East, high performance in education is too", said Grattan's school education program director Ben Jensen.

*What I want to discuss is why this is happening. And what can be done to help the Western kids keep up.

Chilcutt

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.

When kids grow up they all become average.

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Education is important, yes...but show me inventions that came from that same region that has profoundly changed the way we do things in our daily lives.

My point is this...the thought process of the cultures is vastly different. Why should one culture do things the way the other culture does? The American culture has given the world many of the greatest inventions ever that are used in daily life to help the human. What has come from the Asian part of the world that helps the human in it's daily life today?

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South Korea has some crazy practices regarding school. A friend of mine is there now shooting a documentary on 5 students going through their senior year of HS.

"In one of the most competitive societies in the world, how does one find their place? What does it take to achieve your aspirations and goals? Our documentary will take a look at the lives of five Korean teenagers on the verge of either reaching- or losing- their dreams. The film will follow the students during the most stressful time of their lives- their last year of high school. After studying for roughly sixteen hours each day, their futures boil down to one last exam. On November 10th, 2011, thousands of high school seniors will take a nine hour test that for many, will determine their economic and social status for the rest of their lives."

Documentary on Korean High School

Here's a clip from the documentary showing parents urgently praying for their children's success:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Cif46iyDcuU

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Test scores and rankings do tend to be higher in mono-language and single cultural nations.

Almost all of the international educational comparisons focus on Math scores. Anyone know any other criteria of comparison being used and how differently countries measure up on those criteria? Math is important and high math scores are good, but they're not useful as a sole measure of academic quality since high math scores can simply be a result of highly disciplined rote learning.

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They're the easiest ones to measure. NCLB requires testing in Reading, Language, Science and Math. I don't know of any comparisons (besides maybe science) focused on the others.

One question I'd like the answer to: Do east asian countries disaggregate the test scores of their "special education" and language disability students before figuring these averages? In this country, reporting data MUST include English language learners and the learning disabled. ALL are tested, NONE can receive help or translation of test questions and their data counts.

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There are real differences in the educational systems and environments, but I always like this line from "Stand and Deliver"

You think I want to do this? The Japanese pay me to do this. They're tired of making everything. They want you guys to pull your own weight.

Programme for International Student Assessment.
PISA, pioneered by the Paris-Based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has become a standard tool for benchmarking international standards in education.

Australian schools enjoyed a large increase in expenditure in recent years, yet student performance fell: S. Korea spent less per student than the OECD average, yet student performance shot up.

"Nor is success culturally determined, a product of Confucianism, Rote learning or 'Tiger Mothers',the report said.

It said that Hong Kong and Singapore had made major improvements in reading literacy in the past decade, while the test by which the students were ranked was not conductive to rote learning as it required problem-solving.

Finally: The report said the best systems had a relentless, practical focus on learning and on teaching education, mentoring and professional development, rather than greater spending.

Well guys, there is the report as I read it. Any chance of these practices being implemented in the States?

JC

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.

True but there is a lot of use of "past tense". The question is NOT What have you done?" but "What have you done for me LATELY." It won't be long before they catch up.

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No, American students, on average, don't have the appetite for academic rigor as compared to their Chinese counterparts. They also have many more non-academic distractions: school sports, various entertainments, etc. Parents complain if there is a large amount of homework assigned or if summer academic work is proposed.

The disparity in academic achievement should be a surprise to no one.

No. The whole culture would have to be changed to make it work. Take your Chevy 350 intake and try to make it work with a Ford 302 and see what you get. The basic problem is that over there, they are hungry and we are not. It is that simple. There is less safety nets last time I was there and there is still probably less. That makes it harder to coast. Less motivation, less success. It is that simple. At some point, that culture will also get rich and decide to be more egalitarian and the same thing will happen. Cycle continues

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Why is that and how does it relate to "melting pot" societies?

Ah, but Sir, you miss the critical component. Growing up there, I saw beggars till they outlawed them. Well, it is a prime example of what a path can take you. OTOH, if coasting is supported, well, the sting of failure is reduced and thus the incentive to excel is less prominent. A very simple example is this. If all the cop did when I am busted for speeding is make me pay $5 and that ends the issue, do you think I will keep to the speed limits or be doing 105 down a 25 road? OTOH, if summary execution is the penalty, I'd be doing 10 under. Extreme examples but the PRINCIPLE is the same. Consequence or the lack of it motivates or doesn't motivate.

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I think we have a valid question with this one. I know this is a huge factor here in the USA- my son's school just pulled the plug on 1/2 of it's advanced academic classes because they money was needed for "all inclusive" students. It's no surprise when you include the weakest links the chain is less strong and the top students receive less instruction.