Now that I’m in academia, my eyes have been opened.

Foreign freshmen (Latin America, Africa, Asia etc..), are light years ahead of American kids at the same age. High School is not preparing kids for college level math or writing. I’ve got Chinese freshmen here that can communicate in English better than American kids. Chinese high school has them at a calculus II level as they graduate. WTF is happening???

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Carazaa · F

I've gone to school in Europe and California, and I think California schools are better. Why?

In other countries they focus on memorizing facts. In the USA they focus on thinking, problem solving, working in groups, cooperating and being in a multicultural environment.

When I moved to The USA I fell in love with education, not there. My high school had ski team, drama classes, musicals, and the teachers asked us what we thought. Not in Europe. There when I entered the class the teacher didn't say a word, only pointed to the board what pages to read and write the answers. I hated education in Europe. All the homework was done in class. There were no discussions or interesting debates in any of my classes in Europe. Also, the government did not allow higher education unless there was a need for a particular profession. In the USA you can become anything you want, then the war happened in the middle east and refugees came and they didn't have enough teachers so my mom who doesn't even have any college got a job as a teacher.

The USA is like no other country, we are multicultural, and we have the best thinkers in the world. I have more than a Masters degree now and I love what I do, and I make a lot of money. As much as a doctor in Europe.

jackieash

@Carazaa Just a couple of questions to put in context: At which time were you at school in Europe (I was at school until to 11 years ago) and the teaching technique I don't recognise personally but I know people of a generation older than me who told me something like that you've said. I have never been educated in anywhere other than England. But I guess the teaching techniques are not as different now.

Carazaa · F

@jackieash I went to high school and college many years ago, but lately the education in Europe has suffered a lot because the huge immigration of kids in Europe and lack of skilled teachers. I have never gone to school in Asia but I guess memorization of fact is important in Asia as well as in Europe. But in general my point is that I love USAs schools because the focus is not on memorization as much as multiculturalism, thinking, problem-solving, cooperation, group projects, music, drama, art, and sports. Education became fun for me.