Superman is a Myth

1
Superman is a Myth

• What the Media Isn't Telling You About Your
  Child's Education

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Superman is a MythWhat the Media Isn't Telling
You About Your Child's Education

• As you come in, please jot down any questions
  that you have about
• the quality of your childs education and
  ability to compete in the job market
• the quality of education for ALL students
• proposed solutions to improve education in
  America (e.g. Charter schools, movement towards
  corporate model in education, etc.?)

3
About Us

• New York City public school Math/English teachers
  (inner city, Harlem)
• Jerome Scarlett
• Claire Zaglauer
• Valerie Samn

4
A Nation at Risk (1983)

• Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce,
  industry, science, and technological innovation
  is being overtaken by competitors throughout the
  world.
• Over half the population of gifted students do
  not match their tested ability with comparable
  achievement in school.

5
A Nation at Risk (1983)

• It is important, of course, to recognize that the
  average citizen today is better educated and more
  knowledgeable than the average citizen of a
  generation ago--more literate, and exposed to
  more mathematics, literature, and science. The
  positive impact of this fact on the well-being of
  our country and the lives of our people cannot be
  overstated. Nevertheless, the average graduate of
  our schools and colleges today is not as
  well-educated as the average graduate of 25 or 35
  years ago, when a much smaller proportion of our
  population completed high school and college. The
  negative impact of this fact likewise cannot be
  overstated.

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A Nation at Risk (1983)

• More and more young people emerge from high
  school ready neither for college nor for work.
  This predicament becomes more acute as the
  knowledge base continues its rapid expansion, the
  number of traditional jobs shrinks, and new jobs
  demand greater sophistication and preparation.

7
Math/Science Education (TIMSS Classroom Study,
2007)

• Math/Science curriculum regarded as approximately
  2 years behind Japan
• USA consistently scores 100 points behind
  Singapore/Japan/Hong Kong (500 vs. 600)
• Even our top students score below top students in
  other countries.

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TIMSS Classroom Study
USA, Germany (below average) Japan (near the top of the list)
Focus on problem-solving Focus on conceptual understanding
Teach first, then practice Students solve problems to discover new concept
More topics, less coverage Fewer topics, more comprehensive coverage
Frequent interruptions No interruptions of class time
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Skills of the future (Ideas paraphrased from NCTM
keynote address, 2008)

• Critical thinking
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Cross-cultural communication skills
• Vision and creativity
• Technology

10
Suggested Solutions

• Removal of ineffective teachers
• Charter schools
• Corporate model applied to education
• Improvement of curriculum
• Ways to advocate for your children