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US students at competitive disadvantage with Indian, Chinese
Washington, PTI:
A top education official in Obama Administration today said that the American students are at a competitive disadvantage with those from India and China, who spend more time in schools.
"Our students today are competing against children in India and China. Those students are going to school 25 to 30 percent longer than we are. Our students, I think, are at a competitive disadvantage. I think we're doing them a disservice," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said at a Congressional hearing.
"I fundamentally think our day is way too short. I think our week is way too short. I think our year is way too short," Duncan said responding to a question during his testimony before House Education and Labour Committee. "I want our children to compete on level playing field with children from India and China," he said.
Duncan argued that the students in the US should devote more time in their schools. "We saw it all the time in Chicago what we call summer reading loss. If you get children to a certain point by June, when they come back in September, they're further behind than when they left in June. It's absolutely crazy," he said.
"We've got to open up our schools and think very, very differently. So time is a huge equaliser particularly for children coming from disadvantaged families and communities. We have to be much more creative in how we lengthen the day, the week and the year," the Education Secretary said.
Referring to Obama's plan for American education, he said it is a comprehensive plan that meets the educational needs of our youngest citizens from cradle to career. "If we are going to be successful in building our economy, our early- childhood programmes need to prepare our youngest children for kindergarten so they are ready to start reading and learning," he said.
"Our K-12 schools need to make sure our students have all the academic knowledge and skills they need to enter college or the workforce. Our higher education system needs to offer whatever advanced learning students need to be successful in a career, whether they will become a plumber, a teacher or a business executive," he said.
"As federal policy makers, we need to improve preparation for college and expand college access and completion by increasing financial aid so that students of all income levels can pay for college without taking on a mountain of debt," Duncan said.
Yes American students spend shorter time at school but they spend lot more time in thinking and assignments. However west in general does not gear itself to the extraordinary competitive spirit that exists in India and China. The Indian student achieves things through sheer grit and determination coupled with intellect. A western student achieves things due to sheer facilities, some hard work and support by the government. Imagine if all Indian kids are provided with 50% of the facilities of the American student. Indian government needs to focus in the next 5 years on infrastructure and education of the poor. The truely India will be Gods country.
At this point of time Indian and Chinese students fare better in the schools. The understandings in parents and the world is, Indian parents wants their children to progress towards scientific and technological levels of west. They run extra mile. Where as the American students feel that they have already run that extra mile.
The big difference is the Indian families and parents are very supportive towards children and try to wade them away from evil company,thinking, habits Etc. In fact parents put in extra time. Not only parents, even uncles and aunts.
Of course, the same family support was there years back for students in yester years in US from parents and family. Such support is less now. All because of money oriented society.
Now India is slowly becoming like west.
Indian students are spiritual and academic thinking. We feel the spirituality is one formula added to western society, its going to be great. This gun culture is another worrying factor. US can get away from gun cukture ASAP
There is no doubt that Indian and chinese students spend more time in the school and they are also very hard working. Unfortnately for the
Indian students the government is not providing
proper facility in par with USA more over the so called reservation policy discriminates the
brighter students. If there is anything which USA has contributed to world education at secondary level it is so called western culture not very useful for the hardworking Indians and chinese.
The big advantage for USA students is they enjoy lot of facilities and they are rich compared to Indians.The students at secondary level in USA is obssessed with gun culture, lot of freedom,and no serious commitment to studies,
Teen age problems, Non supportive families.Of course there are certain students who are hard working and good in USA also.
