I saw an Ad Council ad recently which was telling. I tried to find it online but couldn't. The ad featured a bold ranking of nations. It looked something like this:
1 Hong Kong (China)
2 Finland
3 South Korea
4 Netherlands
5 Liechtenstein
6 Japan
7 Canada
8 Belgium
9 Macao (China)
10 Switzerland
11 Australia
12 New Zealand
13 Czech Republic
14 Iceland
15 Denmark
16 France
17 Sweden
18 Austria
19 Germany
20 Ireland
21 Slovak Republic
22 Norway
23 Luxembourg
24 Poland
25 Hungary
26 Spain
27 Latvia
28 United States
But is was no Olympic medal count, it was an international comparison of math, reading, and science skills among 15-year-olds from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD PISA (Program for Student Assessment) 2003 database.
Now I'm not saying sports aren't important. I learned many valuable life skills on the courts and fields of my youth, but you've got to admit that this ad is true because it strikes a nerve. Why aren't we as enthusiastic about having great schools as we are about having great local NFL franchises? Why aren't teachers better paid? Why don't we enter the education race in 2010 the way we entered the space race in 1957?
I know, there's no money. I just wonder what the cost will be.
2 comments:
Tim - I'm right there with you! I just did a research project where I spent some time in schools that were overcrowded, underfunded and while the teachers were still hopeful - they realized that they can do only so much with what they've got. I just wish that we, as a society, would value them more and get them what they need to help their students succeed.
Overall, I just wonder how we can continue, as a nation, to be a leading world power when our future generations are ranking 28th? If this was the Olympics, they wouldn't even be considered "medal contenders." ugh.
I so wish I could find the original ad. I might go back to my barber shop and ask for the magazine. It really hit home to me because I have kids, but also because my wife, and two sisters are underpaid teachers.
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