Book Analysis: "The Smartest Kids in the World" by Amanda Ripley (publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2013).
Ripley's "The Smartest Kids in the World", is a book I will reference and re-read a million times. It has literally answered the questions of why other school systems around the world score so much higher than us on International Tests and what our schools domestically are doing so wrong that places us in the bottom percentile. Ripley, a reporter and journalist, recruited 4 undercover agents (students) who went into the top performing schools world-wide and gave us a first hand glimpse into that very question; what makes other schools better?! Three of the four students were American students who were studying abroad for high school: a girl from a very poor performing school in Oklahoma attended her sophomore year in Finland which is ranked number 1, a boy from a prestigious school in Maryland studied his Senior Year in Poland ranked number 2, and another boy studying in his gap year at Korea (ranked number 3) from the best school in the Nation in Minnesota. The fourth student was a girl who constantly transfered back and forth from Korea to the U.S. East Coast and laughed at the way her teachers were practically giving their students the answers. How, she wondered, were the students supposed to figure out those problems in the real world when those teachers weren't going to be around to give them the answers or walk them through a solution?
As a mom and an educator, this book has struck me on several levels. The most common theme in the other countries, is that they teach their students HOW TO THINK. My first class in Early Childhood Education taught us this same principal. However, when I started taking accredited Teacher Credential courses, I did not find this very basic, super important, foundational skill mentioned in any of my course work. It's not my programs fault, but I do think the course I took in Early Childhood Ed. should be a foundational course for both Parents and Teachers. It changed my life in how I Guided and Disciplined (the title of the course) my children and inspired me to make the huge leap into the Education Sector to become a teacher.
The second main concept the author noted was that if American Parents took their children's education as seriously as they take Sports, we would be ranked among the top 5 Countries as well. Most parents in America seem more concerned with Athletics in Schools, than their child's education in schools. At a very prestigious private school in Washington D.C., Ripley noted that the parents suggested that more attention needed to be given to the math program. But, the parents were even more upset that their football team was underperforming! The balance is off in favor of a life skill that will not benefit a child beyond their athletic years and less in favor of a skill that will advance the child in society for decades to come. Ripley also noted that several entry-level job applicants didn't make the final cut for the job because they lacked basic math skills, but had knowledge in the top NFL players and teams. Shocking.
Teachers in the higher performing countries were also very highly regarding. The same respect, pay and standards of excellence are given to the teachers the way we give respect and a hold a high standard of excellence to our Lawyers, Doctors, Actors and Professional Athletes. It is harder to get into a Teacher Preparation School in Finland than it is to get into the Medical Profession over there, according to Ripley. Imagine if we held our teachers to the same standard of Excellence. In contrast, here in the U.S.A., teacher programs are the easiest to get into and accept anyone who can pass the finger printing requirements and has a basic college education. Not to put down the drastic measures some go to achieve a college education, however, it's very difficult to get into Medical School in America. Why not have the same level of care for Teacher Education?
Last note I'll make about the book, in regards to the Korean student who transferred back and forth between countries. She noticed that the teachers taught the main mathematical subjects in tandem with each-other, which makes way better sense than separating the subjects. For example; here in the United States, I am positive that 99.9% of our schools teach arithmetic, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, statistics, advanced algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra and so on, and most likely somewhere in that order. In Korea, teachers are teaching Geometry WITH Calculus!! Doesn't that make more sense? Geometry is the study of shapes and then Calculus is the study of how those shapes move! Why do we teach this differently?!?!
"The Smartest Kids in the World" make me think of the education methods I use teach my own students and my own children. I fear how we as a society will fare when it takes so long to pass Educational policy that will help. However, the most important thing is to be consistent in our teaching practices...yet, how can we do that? Common Core is supposed to help. But the reforms needed to help our nation seems gigantic. Small changes made by each person. Holding students to the highest level of expectations, as I have read from Ripley's book AND in my Teacher Prep programs, is the BEST way to hold kids accountable to the education they deserve and require. As a whole, we should start there.
Thanks again and stay tuned to next week's book...I am reading up on Marriage books to strengthen my own loving relationship. So far, so good:).
