Current Issue # 4

Article Title: Study Compares States’ Math and Science Scores With Other Countries

Source: The New York Times
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/education/14students.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=education&pagewanted=print
Published: November 14, 2007
Writer: Sam Dillon
Submitted by: Zenobia Fypher

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) study is one whose results are often spouted by educators in at various levels in the New York City Department of Education. The study makes a comparison of Mathematics and Science performance levels of students worldwide and places countries in a level of hierarchy. The article states that while American students generally perform better in Mathematics and Science than students in most foreign countries, they are yet to level the “playing field” or to even surpass, students from countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan; the countries considered economic competitors of the US. However, US Mathematics and Science test scores were above countries such as Egypt, Chile and Saudi Arabia and were comparable to scores in European countries such as Slovakia and Estonia.

There are several factors discussed in the article, which cause this difference, one of which is the cultural differences among the nations. These underlying factors are often not taken into account when the comparisons among the countries are made; yet, they affect the performance of the students. Some of these factors are attendance, discipline, school starting age, drop out rates and poverty levels. As teachers, we witness the effect these factors have on the performance of our students, especially students in the inner city schools.

It may be easy to compare the scores obtained from assessments among various countries, but the most important analysis would be to determine what differences exist between American students and the American learning environment and those of the higher achieving nations.