by Nanette Piotrowski

Created on: April 03, 2009   Last Updated: August 31, 2011

The statistics are in for 2008 and the United States ranks at the bottom as compared to other countries. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Russian Federation and the United Kingdom participated in the categories of Reading Literacy, Math and Science. In Reading Literacy, The Russian Federation out-performed all other countries and Japan out-performed all countries in Math and Science; with the United States being dead last in all categories.

The United States spends more money on education than any other country with $9800 per student for the lower grades to $24,400 for higher grade levels. One would think that with that much money being spent per student, that the United States would rank the highest in performance than any other country.

What then is the problem with the American educational system?

*Classroom and Behavioral Problems

Intimidation and verbal abuse ranks the highest in the United States as compared to foreign countries. Russia has the lowest incidence of improper behavior in their schools, due in part to strict regulations and guidelines on classroom etiquette. In the United States, teachers have very little control over what they can and cannot do with regard to students disrupting the classroom. Parents have been the major cause for teachers losing control of their class.

At one time, teachers has the right to discipline egregious behavior by students. That ability has been taken out of the teachers hands and the students are well aware that their behavior will go unpunished, therefore, the incidents of disruption go unchecked.

*Active Parental Participation in Schoolwork

Parents are no longer checking to see if homework assignments are being done, let alone reviewing the completed work. The average time assisting children with their homework is three hours per week versus six in foreign countries. This is not to say that 'all' parents are remiss in this function, just that it has become the normal attitude that it be left up to the teachers.

*Reducing Academic Guidelines

"My child can't learn this because he doesn't speak English very well." With the large influx of illegal aliens, schools have reduced criteria to allow lower scores to pass in English, Reading and Writing. Some schools are forcing mandatory Spanish classes on English-speaking students. The 'C' grade given to pass a class has now been lowered to a 'D' in order to pass a student from one grade level to the next.

This results in the student's inability, once they have graduated; to obtain a well-paying job, write resumes, speak properly, balance checkbooks or read important documents.

*Education Returns

The higher the education level, the higher the income level becomes. Of 25-64 year olds who sought university degrees, Russia had 54% to the United States at 39%. The United States has the lowest percent of university degrees. In terms of employment rate, the United Kingdom has the most employed people of any country.

If children are not receiving the proper education in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, they have no opportunity to advance in their careers or in life in general.

The United States has one of the highest unemployment rates and the lowest educational skills. There is a correlation between the two and until the educational system raises the bar back to where it was before the 21st century stepped in, we are going to continue graduating children who cannot read, write or do simple math. It is up to parents to instill the importance of education and to play a major role once again in its participation.

References: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

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