Quote Originally Posted by kagemusha
Thank you for the indormation Don. The article also mentioned the diversity between schools over there.How big diversity are we talking about,because we are talking about the basic´s of learning here?I understand that on higher education the choosing of right school can be crusial.But on basic schools?
Diversity can be an issue. Our schools are funded at the local level, so if you live in the poorest neighborhood in the country, chances are you receive a more meager educational spending than say a kid attending school in Beverly Hills. As El Slapper said, many American parents who can afford to choose to send their kids to private schools. All of this would explain why we have a larger standard deviation than other countries, but not a lower mean.

If you mean how much class time is spent in distractions, as I said 'some' would argue this (not necessarily me). I don't honestly know how much time teachers spend reading "Heather has Two Mommies" and stuff like that. Generally, when those arguments come up, they tend to be anecdotal extrapolated to the system at large. "The reason kids are doing bad is because teachers spend all day talking about racial equality. I know this, because my kid brought home a homework assignment on the Civil Rights movement". Again, this is 'an' argument, not mine.

The fact is both the Left and the Right are going to have to slaughter some sacred cows if we want to fix the problems with our education system. I don't see that happening by either side.