Friday, July 5, 2013

US spends more on ed with little to show for it. Sound familiar?

The United States spends more on education than all other countries yet gets poorer results.  Suprised? CBS News reports:

"The United States spends more than other developed nations on its students' education each year, with parents and private foundations picking up more of the costs, an international survey released Tuesday found.

Despite the spending, U.S. students still trail their rivals on international tests.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — which groups the world's most developed countries — writes in its annual report that brand-new and experienced teachers alike in the United States out-earn most of their counterparts around the globe. But U.S. salaries have not risen at the same pace as other nations.

The findings, part of a 440-page tome of statistics, put the United States' spending on its young people in context.

The United States spent more than $11,000 per elementary student in 2010 and more than $12,000 per high school student. When researchers factored in the cost for programs after high school education such as college or vocational training, the United States spent $15,171 on each young person in the system — more than any other nation covered in the report.

That sum inched past some developed countries and far surpassed others. Switzerland's total spending per student was $14,922 while Mexico averaged $2,993 in 2010. The average OECD nation spent $9,313 per young person.

As a share of its economy, the United States spent more than the average country in the survey. In 2010, the United States spent 7.3 percent of its gross domestic product on education, compared with the 6.3 percent average of other OECD countries. Denmark topped the list on that measure with 8 percent of its gross domestic product going toward education.

Spending, of course, only tells part of the story and does not guarantee students' success. The United States routinely trails its rival countries in performances on international exams despite being among the heaviest spenders on education.

U.S. fourth-graders are 11th in the world in math in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, a separate measure of nations against each other. U.S. eighth-graders ranked ninth in math, according to those 2011 results.
(KF note: Folks in Madison and Rankin who thinks your schools are soooooo good: compare them to schools overseas.)

The Program for International Student Assessment measurement found the United States ranked 31st in math literacy among 15-year-old students and below the international average. The same 2009 tests found the United States ranked 23rd in science among the same students, but posting an average score.

And it's not as though all spending on education is public, the OECD report found. Public spending accounts for just 70 cents of every education dollar in the United States. Parents picked up another 25 cents and private sources paid for the remainder in 2010.

A decade earlier, the public's share of education spending was 72 cents on every dollar....." Article

If you are reaaaaally bored, here is the report.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

If most parents spent as much money, time, and mental enthusiasm teaching their children math and science as they do on sports, these reports would produce much better results. Focus on what is going to count in the later years, not what gratifies the senses in the current.

Anonymous said...

Part of the problem is there are a good many teachers who are not qualified to teach. The were taught by unqualified teachers so therefore they are just as unqualified. The education system has been dumbed down and no amount of money they throw into education will help until we get some teachers who know how to teach. Now I'm not talking about all teachers just those who do not meet the qualifications.

Anonymous said...

The largest majority of teachers are very qualified and very dedicated to doing their jobs well. But, they are required to teach students how to pass state testing. State testing is developed towards all students. State testing is how schools are graded. A schools grades and attendance decides the amount of funding the school will get - "No child left behind." Over the years, schools have dumbed down the system so that some athletes can make a passing grade to be allowed to play. The current system drags all students down to the lowest level.

Anonymous said...

This isn't new. It's been going on for 40 years.

Anonymous said...

If most parents spent as much money, time, and mental enthusiasm teaching their children math and science as they do on sports, these reports would produce much better results. Focus on what is going to count in the later years, not what gratifies the senses in the current.

An anonymous with no bona fides is an anonymous comment no different than from an childless intern at the JFP ... or even the owners of the JFP themselves.

Pugnacious said...

So, how does one explain Mennonite school children being formally educated through the seventh grade by non-degreed teachers and parents, and housed in portable classrooms, "aceing" GED tests to get into nursing school and colleges? The answer is sooooooo simple!

Anonymous said...

Those of us who went to good schools know that parents let teachers teach their subject so they could make it interesting for the class. Students could be divided up according to their readiness to learn the subject matter. Students weren't passed on if they weren't ready to advance. Politics and religion weren't a part of school. Yes, we said the Pledge and had a minute of devotional that was a reminder to be kind and could be done today with zero controversy if anyone bothered with he content. Parents believed the teachers and not little Johnny's excuses. Few tests were multiple choice as it was seen as important for little Johnny to learn to write and think not just memorize or recognize key sentences in a paragraph for testing. The activities allowed kids to learn to organized and manage and select leaders with minimal adult supervision. And, at the university level, it wasn't about making money for the university other than through donations and fund raising and those giving money didn't get to dictate how every dime was spent. Colleges and universities wanted to be " ivory towers" of academic integrity for a sound reason. Those students with emotional problems and serious learning disabilities didn't hold back an entire class. There parents had to find alternative schools at their own expense. We didn't make the absurd assumption that every child could pass a test just because they'd reached a certain age. Nor did we assume every child could go to or graduate from college. But, now, a college education is not much better than a high school education in my day. Again, testing is objective.
As a society, we just don't like smart people that know more than we do. We hate knowledge and trust our feelings and instincts. We don't defer to people who have acquired expertise with rare exceptions like medical doctors and they are quickly losing credibility as well as medicine becomes a business where again integrity,knowledge and the purpose of healing is secondary. Doctors are required to treat every patient as falling in the average rather than use their training to assess an individual.
We've gone from Buckley to Beck , from King to Sharpton, from Stevenson to Pelosi. And, we wonder why things aren't working out!

Anonymous said...

But on the bright side, at least our kids know all of the Justin Bieber songs and what Kim Kardashian is wearing on any given day.

Pugnacious said...

Still waiting for AH comments on Mississippi State's loss to UCLA.


Maybe AH should be looking at Charter Schools for the solution to declining scholastic achievements in public schools?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABxuHgMVft8



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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