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Do U.S. Students Measure Up In Math Achievement?

School curriculum and state standards are ever changing and often a topic of controversy.  Do our students measure up to other countries?  When reading the article, A Cohort Curriculum, The Case of Mathematics, by William Schmidt, Richard Houang and Leland Logan, the authors' are quick to point out the short comings of the content and depth of content our children are learning.

The authors' views are by saying, "A mile wide and an inch deep."  This implies that U.S. curriculum is currently designed to give a brief and general understanding of many topics as compared to other countries who focus intensely on just a few.  When compared to other countries our lack of in depth-knowledge on tested subjects, has caused our students to measure up short.

Are we really measuring up short?  Are our students less educated or bright?  This topic has views on each end of the spectrum.  I am a firm believer that students become well-rounded and enriched the more they learn and know about our world covering a variety of topics.  So who is to say what and how much knowledge is better?   If the study was testing the amount of knowledge on mathematics  as a whole verses in depth knowledge in just a few areas the authors would be singing praises for the curriculum taught in the U.S.

I give our teachers a lot of praise for educating  our students in an ever changing environment where school curriculum is only as good as the latest study or test comparing students from all over the world.  My motto is inch by inch, mile by mile.  As long as our children keep learning and stay current with knowledge that will help them to be successful members of society, I think we are right on track. 


Link to read the original article in full.