Xref: utzoo sci.math:5384 sci.physics:5565 comp.edu:1885 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!oliveb!amdahl!johnm From: johnm@uts.amdahl.com (John Murray) Newsgroups: sci.math,sci.physics,comp.edu Subject: Re: Are Americans Intellectually Inferior? Message-ID: Date: 17 Jan 89 03:00:20 GMT References: <14.UUL1.3#913@acw.UUCP> Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 20 In article <14.UUL1.3#913@acw.UUCP>, scott@acw.UUCP (Scott Guthery) writes: > Bret Jolly wonders if Americans are intellectually inferior. The > answer is a resounding "Really!" ... translation: Yes. This > is first and foremost a result of being subjected to a public > education system that is run solely for the benefit of the unions > that control it. If unions and public schools are to blame, then how come kids in other countries seem to be smarter? The US isn't the only nation with public schools and teachers' unions. Indeed, in some countries, private schools tend to turn out lesser quality students than the public system; they're regarded as academies for rich thick kids. Why blame teachers and unions for a system which allows kids to leave school without sitting some standard national or state-wide exams? If every local school district gets to set its own curriculum and rules, then of course some kids are going to be short-changed. No school or teacher wants to seem incompetent, and hance they'll "grade on a curve", so to speak. Centralize the curriculum, exams, grading, and so on, and then see who's good and bad. - John Murray (My own opinions, etc.)