So recently there was the documentary, "Waiting for Superman."  I haven't seen it yet, but know that it has a definate point of view, i.e. blame it on the teacher's unions.  What do you think about education in America?  Why do you think we are slipping?  How important is it to you that we compete in standardized math and science tests?  What do you think about achievement gaps and No Child Left Behind? 

Thoughts anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aiofw

I think that US students are falling behind because, while no child is left behind, no child is pushed forward. The system is so unbelievably boring and rigid that many simply don't care about school. It's based on a standardized level, not an individual level. That's where I believe the problem is. I am blessed to go to one of the best schools in the country on financial aid, a private school, which has some of the highest test averages in the country (we were first in the world on 4 APs averagewise in 2006). Even this school is nothing compared to what I believe GT education should be. To put it quite simply, while the teachers are superb, the fact remains that they do not make their classes engaging enough for some of the students (most of the people there are J's=usually very regimented and hard working even if the material is ridiculously boring). To be perfectly honest, I do have a reputation for being lazy and for being a slacker because I stay up to usually around 2AM researching stuff I'm interested in (aka not schoolwork-except history) and I still have a decent GPA (barely good enough to get me into NHS-88.28 to 87). Another reason I'm bored in school (besides ADD) is the fact that the people who aren't as intelligent in a certain area will slow the rest of the class down, and when I can't move at the pace I like I get bored and irritated. Also, I know this situation is FAR worse in public schools, only the best students/test scorers are allowed at my school, so I shouldn't be bitching too much I suppose... but at any rate: My GT education would take some of the brightest (people in the 97% up on a standardized test of iq is what I think should be the cutoff, but that's just me) and it would give them individual instruction in GT schools. They would be allowed to learn at their own rapid pace. There would be no need for a structured system of classes (as in class of 2011,12,etc). People who are brilliant in a certain area would be pushed forward, and the people who are brilliant in a certain field generally love that field. It just seems so much more practical to me... lol

Good insights everyone!

Purple Giraffe, I agree that No Child Left Behind is a joke and results in "teaching to the test," a dull and mediocre classroom, and lack of well honed critical thinking skills.

BirdsallSa, there should definately be more GT schools / programs, and I agree that the design of these programs needs definate tweaking. I was in what was available for GT kids at my schools, and you're right. It was nowhere near as engaging as it could have been, probably because most classes were taught by SJs who lean more towards fact memorization rather than cause and effect, debate, etc... Also, just a public school, and nothing like the program you're in.

And Nadette, same goes for the urban schools. Lack of parental or societal interest is measurable in the performance of these students. Stripes, I watched the video ( yes, all of it - it was very interesting ), and there are some great examples of parents failing to prepare their kids to enter or succeed in school. For instance, the mother who complained that her kindergartener could not write his own name. * Why didn't you teach him this years before kindergarten? *

And Savage Brain, yes, bureaucracy ruins everything. Most of the money gets stuck paying useless administrators and their absurd ideas considering they are not on the frontlines. And I ABSOLUTELY agree that the climate in some public schools is not conducive to learning. I've worked in some pretty hardcore schools, and could write a book that would appal most reasonable people. I really don't think that students or staff should have to legitimately fear physical assault or put up with regular verbal assaults in school. Nevermind the constant interruptions in class which make it impossible for anyone to even hear or focus on the teacher. It's a sad state of affairs.

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

I think the low IQ students/schools could marginally benefit from better teachers, classroom discipline and so on. NCLB was a misguided attempt to bring accountability to failing schools, premised on the idea that all kids have the same academic potential. Clearly that's more of a political sentiment than rigorous science and the results are unsurprising.

Another reason I'm bored in school (besides ADD) is the fact that the people who aren't as intelligent in a certain area will slow the rest of the class down, and when I can't move at the pace I like I get bored and irritated.

I'm leaning more toward homeschooling/independent study for students in that IQ range for that very reason (maybe some kind of small group situation at most.) Now they could benefit from a combination of independent study/Internet learning and standardized testing. I have a 13 year old cousin in a good private school and she's bored out of her mind.

So, as I see it the conversation goes in two directions. One is: If you were at the very top of standardized tests, how did public schools ( or private, secondary as a thought because most will not have access ) fail you. Because, in reality, these are the students that will offer the best hope for innovations and economic growth in the US.

But beyond that, is there anything that can be done with the bottom 10 percent (and perhaps growing ) to get them engaged and interested so as not to drag the whole system down functionally and monetarily?  How do you get parents, which are the primary indicator of a child's perfomance in school, to be involved and care when they're strongly inclined not to be?