[quote=dumbrenter][quote=CA renter]This person clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about and has completely ignored the fact that American schools try to educate one of the most diverse populations on the planet. The students come from homes where they speak hundreds of different languages, have totally different cultural values (including how their home culture values education), and where many come from very poor families who live in crowded conditions in crime-filled neighborhoods.
The changing demographic in the U.S. is largely (almost entirely, IMHO) responsible for decline of student performance over the years. Show me another country and school system with our demographics, and let’s compare how we fare then, shall we?[/quote]
What does diversity have to do with declining student performance? Are you suggesting that folks who do not espeake ingles at home are somehow responsible for decline in student performance? Including the SAT scores that the author refers to? From what I see, such “diverse” student population gets filtered out way before college. So what does college education (referred to by the author) have to do with your assertion?
I find that suggestion very offensive. You can believe what you want, but you might want to also consider that some of these ‘diverse’ student population might actually biasing the test scores for higher education upwards and making jhonny boy look smarter than he really is.[/quote]
You are welcome to be offended, but the numbers speak for themselves. It doesn’t do anybody any favors if we stick our heads in the sand and try to “wish it away.” It is VERY clear, and the same issues are evident in different cities, counties, and states all across the country.
Are you seriously trying to imply that our country’s demographic shifts don’t have any effects on student outcomes? We have tremendous (and growing!) income/wealth inequality, and inequality among different races and ethnic groups. The same results are seen over and over and over again, irrespective of how much money we throw at these students and schools. Don’t take my word for it, do some research on the topic.
The E.U. countries that have similar issues with demographic shifts are experiencing the same problems that we are experiencing in the U.S. The problems arise when you get a lot of immigrants from developing nations who quickly overwhelm school systems that are set up for, and previously populated by, people who’ve grown up in developed nations. As the ratios shift, the educational outcomes shift with them. It’s a problem that cannot be ignored or “pretended” away.
