Comments on: TIMSS: U.S. moves up in math, but Asians still rule http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/12/timss-us-moves-up-in-math-but-asians-still-rule/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:52:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: pm http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/12/timss-us-moves-up-in-math-but-asians-still-rule/#comment-42021 pm Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:16:51 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=6630#comment-42021 Well, last I looked Hong Kong is part of China. So the ranking and argument about numbers may be reversed from the one that was made. Well, last I looked Hong Kong is part of China. So the ranking and argument about numbers may be reversed from the one that was made.

]]> By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/12/timss-us-moves-up-in-math-but-asians-still-rule/#comment-42020 Margo/Mom Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:03:40 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=6630#comment-42020 Well, sure, Gerald Bracy--we don't have to do anything we don't wanna do. But I think the question is, when did we start to settle for mediocrity? In international comparisons we have become a good solid middle of the pack country. Our lowest kids score lower than the countries at the top, and we have smaller percentages of higher scoring kids. And we seem to be stuck there, despite incremental changes. We are pretty satisfied with incremental changes. But we made it to the middle of the pack by coasting and letting others pass us by. Lack of aspiration doesn't strike me as a good way to go through life. Well, sure, Gerald Bracy–we don’t have to do anything we don’t wanna do. But I think the question is, when did we start to settle for mediocrity? In international comparisons we have become a good solid middle of the pack country. Our lowest kids score lower than the countries at the top, and we have smaller percentages of higher scoring kids.

And we seem to be stuck there, despite incremental changes. We are pretty satisfied with incremental changes. But we made it to the middle of the pack by coasting and letting others pass us by. Lack of aspiration doesn’t strike me as a good way to go through life.

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