Not nationally, but Michigan releases a building-by-building top-to-bottom ranking every year. There are, of course, a whole bunch of huge flaws in the methodology, but that's another matter...
Tough shit. I had a second grade teacher that kicked ME out the room when I'd had enough of kids picking on me and took actions into my own hands. I had a fifth grade teacher that was checked out of every subject he taught, that was replaced later in the year by a bitch whose primary concern was that we don't "embarrass" her (and was fired two years later for slapping a student, from what I heard ) I think most of use have had at least a few instances of shitty teaching, but we as a country should WANT better. TKO had a foreign exchange student in high school that had to be held back when she went home because the school she attended was that far behind where she would have been had she stayed in Korea--and I'm fairly sure she was in many of the same AP/accelerated classes TKO was in. Something is wrong with this, IMO. Oh, definitely this doesn't help. I wouldn't be surprised if someone were to find a link between autism and the number of hours the kid was plunked in front of a TV in his younger years. ETA: Agree with the Alberts and John that group assignments more often than not being the smarter and/or more motivated kids doing the work and the slackers just coasting off. In third grade, I was always paired with this one little 'tard slowpoke that did just enough work to fuck up my assignments and get me "B"s on all of them. Group assignments work better in AP classes, because the vast majority of those kids want to be there and ability-wise they're far more equal to one another.
The main reason Finland out performs places like the United States is that they probably don't have many politicians who think it's a good idea to purposefully destroy the public schools.
You sound bitter. It is perfectly normal that someone with more ability should do extra work and share the rewards with someone who has less, isn't it?
All fairly reasonable, especially the removal of school uniforms - should just be smart casual (no tees/short skirts) to maintain a sense of professionalism, because some will take the piss. I still recall one girl coming in dress-down day in something so skin-tight she was more of an ambulatory biology lesson. I'm more interested in seeing improved literacy and numeracy skills, better life skills and useful ancillary skills. Little things like "word of the day" where kids are given a letter and asked to find a word in the dictionary starting with that letter after school and come in next day to pronounce it and use it appropriately within a sentence. Or getting the 1-12 times table down by rote, and then showing how to use them beyond that so they're a tool rather than something merely parroted. Include lessons that involve morality and philosophy - get them to think. Teach them elements of martial arts - Tai Chi, move up to Judo and finally, where appropriate, to Krav Maga for self-defence and self-discipline. Expand sports to take in games like chess, go and poker as well as physical sports. Road awareness and driving lessons. Extend the school day, so they have 2-3 hours to do their homework at school with materials available to them and mentors (rather than teachers). Involve and engage parents - give them something to do with the kids at least twice a week. Bring in life skills like ironing, washing and cooking. Have continual career advice throughout school. Provide a qualification at 14 displaying literacy, numeracy and IT skills allowing those who dislike school to 'bank' the last years and go into apprenticeships giving them an alternative to schooling without closing the door to them going back to finish later on.
it's funny how you quote me and john in this. why is that? what do you think you have here? have we been rampantly spouting how we need to take from the rich and give to the poor or something? or maybe it's just because we've both actually been poor so you assume things about us? or wait.....maybe you're just jealous that john is smarter than you AND doesn't hate himself for being attracted to men.
I think (in the UK) that primary education for 4 - 11 years olds on the whole isn't too bad. It's definitely more structured and curriculum driven than in my day, and SATS testing is totally unnecessary at that age IMHO, but it's still colourful and exciting and engaging. Secondary education seems to be the stumbling block and many teachers seem woefully under equipped to deal with the demanding and rapidly changing adolescents. Maybe a more informal setting would help but, like ecky said, I definitely think there needs to be more focus on life skills and critical thinking rather than just passing exams. You see normal kids leaving school with such unrealistic expectations and attitudes to work. The gifted/academic ones tend to go down their own path and the underachievers are set up for a life on the dole when in reality they probably have a lot of untapped potential.
