[MD] Public Education

[Arlo Bensinger]

Some thoughts and numbers.

International Comparison of Math, Reading, and Science Skills Among 
15-Year-Olds: "More than 250,000 15-year old students from 41 
countries participated in the assessment. The countries included all 
major industrialized nations (results for Britain were not available) 
and 11 other nations that chose to participate. The test scores are 
from 2003." (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html)

The U.S ranked 28 out of 41 on Math. The top countries were Hong 
Kong, Finland, South Korea, Netherlands, Lichtenstein, Japan, Canada.

The U.S. ranked 12 out of 41 on Reading. The top countries were 
Finland, South Korea, Canada, Austrailia, Lichtenstein, New Zealand.

The U.S. ranked 20 out of 41 on Science. The top countries were 
Finland, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Lichtenstein, Australia.

All the top have public schools. None have a "voucher" system.

 From the report "International Education Comparisons" (Eric Document 
Number: ED356179), "Among the specific findings of the report are 
that while the United States has a highly decentralized education 
system, many other countries have strong national ministries of 
education that provide direction and substantial funding for schools. 
The United States is one of very few developed countries without 
extensive oversight and direction of curriculum by the federal or 
regional government. Only the United States relies heavily on 
standardized tests. A recent International Assessment of Educational 
Progress (IAEP 1992) showed that U.S. 13-year olds ranked 14th out of 
15 countries in mathematics knowledge and 13th in science."

Let's consider Finland, a top ranker across the board, from Wikipedia.

"The Finnish education system is an egalitarian Nordic system, with 
no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance is compulsory for 
9 years starting at age 7, and free meals are served to pupils at 
primary and secondary levels. The first nine years of education 
(primary and secondary school) are compulsory, and the pupils go to 
their local school. In the OECD's international assessment of student 
performance, PISA, Finland has consistently been among the highest 
scorers worldwide; in 2003 Finnish 15-year-olds came first in reading 
literacy, mathematics, and science, while placing second in problem 
solving, worldwide. In tertiary education, the World Economic Forum 
ranks Finland #1 in the world in the enrollment and quality and #2 in 
math and science education."

Are there private schools in Finland? Wikipedia answers. "There are 
private schools but they are made unattractive by legislation. The 
founding of a new private comprehensive school requires a political 
decision by the Council of State. When founded, the private schools 
are given a state grant comparable to the state grant given to the 
municipal school of same size. However, even in private schools, the 
use of tuition fees is strictly prohibited, and any private school 
must admit all its pupils on the same basis as the corresponding 
municipal school. In addition, private schools are required to give 
their students all the social entitlements that are offered to the 
students of municipal schools."

 From a Washington Post article on Finnish schools. "Foreign 
educators in droves want to visit Finnish schools for the simple 
reason that they are so good -- very likely the best on Earth. ... 
"The key," said Pekka Himanen, 31, a renowned scholar with a PhD in 
philosophy (earned at age 20) who is a kind of guru of 
information-age Finland, "isn't how much is invested, it's the 
people. The high quality of Finnish education depends on the high 
quality of Finnish teachers. You need to have a college-level degree 
to run a kindergarten. You need a master's-level degree to teach at a 
primary school. Many of the best students want to be teachers. This 
is linked to the fact that we really believe we live in an 
information age, so it is respected to be in such a key information 
profession as teaching." 
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/23/AR2005052301622.html)

What about South Korea? According to Wikipedia, "The school system in 
1990, however, reflects that which was established under the United 
States occupation."

Why do they achieve success? "Most observers agree that South Korea's 
spectacular progress in modernization and economic growth since the 
Korean War is largely attributable to the willingness of individuals 
to invest a large amount of resources in education: the improvement 
of "human capital." The traditional esteem for the educated man, 
originally confined to the Confucian scholar as cultured generalists, 
now extend to scientists, technicians, and others working with 
specialized knowledge. Highly educated technocrats and economic 
planners could claim much of the credit for their country's economic 
successes since the 1960s. Scientific professions were generally 
regarded as the most prestigious by South Koreans in the 1980s."

What else about South Korea's astonishing public schools success can 
we say? "Government expenditure on education has been generous. In 
1975, it was 220 billion won, the equivalent of 2.2 percent of the 
gross national product, or 13.9 percent of total government 
expenditure. By 1986, education expenditure had reached 3.76 trillion 
won, or 4.5 percent of the GNP, and 27.3 percent of government budget 
allocations."

All in all that data shows that public education can be astonishingly 
successful.

We do need to reform the schools in the U.S., and a large portion of 
this reform depends on a re-valuing of education, and commitment to 
involvement by families and communities (as seen in all top world schools).

"Privatization" need not apply.