Well, duh. Study says homophobes are more likely to have repressed homosexual yearnings

[cbelt3]

:hail:

Pam wrote:
Meh. Politicians are a different breed. They'll hate on anything that'll get them applause and votes.

:agree:

[Chakravartin]

Ombligo wrote: Now the whole nation thinks the US kids lag far behind asian and european kids in science and math. Why bother mention the US is the only country that tests 100% of their students to that level. The other nations only allow their top students to attend high school and test. Then only the top in that group may attend their universities (why do you think so many come here to attend school?)

In reality - our top 25% of students have scores that are equal too or better than Europe and Asia

That's a myth. The TIMSS should have put an end to it once and for all, but people keep repeating it endlessly like the Obama-was-born-in-Kenya story. I think it's a misguided attempt at patriotic spirit that drives people to deceive themselves and others with those falsehoods.

We lag behind several nations in language, math and scientific literacy throughout our educational system. We're not ranked at the bottom, but we're lagging.

[cbelt3]

Chak-
Thanks. The fact that tests are administered in 4th grade sets the international baccalaureate issue aside.

I'm not surprised at all that language is an issue. Teaching any language other than English is considered a budget cutting target item in every public school district. If you want your child to learn another language, you either have to teach them yourself or send them to a private school.

My older children were given 'language exploration' classes in Junior High in public school here... French, Spanish, German. Those classes were removed from the curriculum three years ago during budget cuts. The only non-English exposure most of our kids get is negotiating with employees in shops in Spanish speaking immigrant communities.

[decay]

yet in Europe, children learn 2-3 languages, and sometimes more.

who's at the top again?

[Chakravartin]

decay wrote:
yet in Europe, children learn 2-3 languages, and sometimes more.

In other countries, children get exposed to foreign languages long before they hit puberty. That's prime time in the brain's development to become fluent.

By the time kids in our education system get exposed to 2nd or 3rd languages, they're lucky to pick up on a few phrases.

'Might as well cut it out if you're not going to do it right.