7/17/2019 At the Top of the Class

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/at-the-top-of-the-class 1/1

Not sure how to multiply fractions or what photosynthesis is? Just ask a kid from

Singapore. In the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, part of which

was released last week, eighth graders from the tiny nation outperformed their

peers in both subects. Indeed, !sian countries dominated the top rankings, sending

cheers through their orderly hallways" and grumbles of en#y through !merica and

much of $urope, whose scores fell around the middle.In the most comprehensi#e study e#er done, some %&&.&&& students from '(

countries took e)ams sponsored by an independent cooperati#e of research

centers. $#en ri#als Japan and *orea" which generally refuse to participate in any

study the other has entered" laid down their gauntlets. !nd unlike pre#ious studies,

which ha#e been critici+ed for comparing scores in a #acuum, this study pro#ides

conte)t by looking at teaching styles, study habits and curricula as well.

So that do the top" performing nations ha#e in common? or one thing, they all

ha#e rigorous national standards" unlike the -nited States, where eighth graders

were found to be studying the basic !sian se#enth" grade curriculum. !nd all the

top"ranking countries pri+e academic achie#ement and encourage parental

in#ol#ement. ut there were also a few surprises. Some high" performing countries

ha#e classes of '& pupils and a tradition of #ery little homework, while lower"

achie#ers like the -nited States ha#e smaller classes and reams of homework.

Singapore" which scored a#erage in similar tests in the (/0&s" attributes its latest

success to the practice of tracking students by ability. Ironically, some !merican

educators blamed their mediocre showing on the same practice. !nd the study

found that T1 is not the mind musher some educators belie#e2 the third" ranking

 Japanese kids watch as much as !merican kids, 3.4 hours a day.

Student performance strongly re5ected national polical, social and economic

trends. Singapore6s tightly monitored educational system mirrors an authoritarian

go#ernment that disdains gum" chewing and fa#ors corporal surprisingly mediocre

scores can be attributed to its di++ying social uphea#al. 7esides reuni8cation,

they6#e e)perienced a lot of immigration after the breakup of $astern $urope and

the alkans9, says $ugene :wen of the -.S. ;epartment of $ducation. 7I think they

ha#e a more di#erse population today than they6#e had in the past, and that adds

challenges to their teaching9.

Ideed, good teachers seem to be the key to good scores. The study found that

e#en though !merican teachers spend more time co#ering more material, they tendto emphasi+e rote memori+ation while Singaporean and Japanese teachers

encourage thoughtful problem"sol#ing. <hile #iewing a #ideotape of a Japanese

teacher, says =inda >osen, e)ecuti#e director of the -.S. National ouncil of

 Teachers of Mathematics, 7I was almost mo#ed to tears9 by 7one of the most

elegantly taught lessons I6#e e#er seen. 7=et that be a lesson to us all.