We Will Not Know How The Best American Math And Science Students Compare Internationally

From Education Week:

"The U.S. Department of Education has decided for the first time to sit out an international study designed to gauge how advanced high school students around the world measure up in math and science."

"The cost of U.S. participation has been estimated to run between $3 million and $10 million, depending on the design of the study. Because the NCES has had level funding since 2003, Mr. Schneider said, “the TIMSS 4th and 8th grade has to be our basic priority.”

Why can't the federal government find 10 million dollars to assess how the best American math and science students compare internationally? Is it because American students do not fare well in international comparisons, and the U.S. Department of Education does not want the world to know that all the money that has been given to it has had zero effect in improving American students' performance in math and science?

In the last survey, taken in 1995, students from only two countries—Cyprus and South Africa—scored lower than U.S. school kids.

Hillary Clinton Supports Special Needs School Vouchers

From The Jerusalem Post:

"I also support the federal law that provides funding for students with special needs who are enrolled in private schools."

- Hillary Clinton

Why Teacher Unions Oppose Merit Pay

Teacher unions want teachers to be dependent upon them for pay increases. If teachers can get paid more for teaching well, then they won't need the union. Their pay increases will be determined by the quality of their teaching, not the negotiating ability of their union.

Democrats Support Vouchers

Vouchers Democrats Support:
Higher Education Vouchers (Pell Grants, GI Bill)
Housing Vouchers
Food Vouchers (Food Stamps)

Vouchers Democrats Do Not Support:
K-12 Education Vouchers


Why do Democrats support higher education vouchers but not k-12 education vouchers?

90% Of States Do Not Require Their High School Graduates To Be Ready For College

From Roy Romer:

"According to the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, Alabama is one of 45 states that do not match their requirements for a public high school diploma to the admissions standards of public colleges."

Since a college education is required for 2/3 of the newly created jobs, this means that 90% of the states do not require their high school graduates to be ready for 2/3 of the newly created jobs.

Do Not Tell Your Children That They Are Smart

By telling your children that they are smart, you are harming them.

If you praise a child for doing well by telling them that they are smart, then they will feel that their accomplishment is due to their innate smartness. Then, when they fail, they will believe that they have failed because they did not possess the innate ability to do well. They will stop trying to succeed at that particular task because they will feel that they do not have what it takes.

In contrast, if after your child does well at something, you tell them that their accomplishment is due to their working hard, then they will feel that their accomplishment is due to their level of effort. Then, when they fail, they will believe that they failed because they did not work hard enough, not because they did not have what it takes to succeed. They will work harder to succeed the next time.

Most Of Microsoft's Best Employees Are Recruited From Outside America

"It is about recruiting the best and brightest, and right now, the majority are coming from overseas," Marc Seaman, Microsoft spokesman

Strong Demand For Vouchers In Washington D.C.

According to the Anthony Williams, the former mayor of Washington D.C., there are four applicants for every available school voucher in Washington D.C.