Posted by
Waski_the_Squirrel on Thursday, November 06, 2008 8:16:57 PM
This news is so old it's like a broken record. I think people have become desensitized and have gotten to the point that they feel nothing can be done. However, no matter how bad education may be, there is a lot that can be done for your own child (or yourself). Make good decisions!
ACT Tells the Story
It's common to criticize international comparisons of schools. The claim is that "everyone" in America takes those tests whereas only the best in the other countries take them. I don't want to evaluate that claim today, but it leads me to the ACT. This is a college admissions test and, in general, is taken only by the better students. Some states give it to all students, but that's another story.
When we look at our better students, who are college bound, we would expect to see students who are ready for college. They're not, especially in science. A wealth of information is on
this website.
Depressing as this information is, there is little the common person can easily do. We have to fight a culture in our schools, our communities, and even in our students. But the information contains a real glimmer of hope and opportunity
Getting an Education
The individual student can still get a good education. This
32 page report on North Dakota is true for every state. The numbers may differ slightly, but the general trends are the same. The short version is: don't take your senior year off. I think it's too late for both my readers, but remember this when you have children. I'll be using North Dakota numbers, but you will find this same trend in any state. Just go to the
website and find your own state.
Take a full sequence of science that includes Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The three will improve your science ACT score as well as your college performance in
any science. In North Dakota, 50% of students who take this sequence are considered to be prepared for college level science. Other sciences might help, but this sequence is the most helpful.
Take 4 years of real math up to and including Calculus. 85% of students who take this sequence are ready for college level math. Students who don't feel comfortable with Calculus should still take advanced math, including Trigonometry. Short version: take 4 full years of math in high school. The payoff is huge!
In North Dakota, all students take 4 years of English so it is no surprise that this is the best preparation. An additional English course helps even more.
Frankly, I get tired of students whining that high school doesn't prepare them for college. Some have taken what high school has to offer. Many of them did not take the full math and science available. The advice to "take your senior year off" is really bad advice.
Life is long and, frankly, students will have a lot more fun away from their parents at college than in their senior year. I know I did!