[besson3c]

Interesting infographic here:

Interactive Infographic of the World's Best Countries - Newsweek


Obviously the way this is measured is debatable, but it is interesting to me how poorly the US scores in education in comparison to Canada... Health is not-so-suprising...

[The Final Dakar]

Interesting... the middles east countries that qualify as high income have dreadfully low education quality. That explains more than it should.

[Doofy]

Don't put too much truck in those figures, folks.
It says the UK's "new business start time" is 13 days. It's actually less than a second, i.e. the time it takes to think "I am now in business making and selling hand-made basket weave products" and bang it's done.

[Dork.]

Why does Newsweek hate America so much?

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Obviously the way this is measured is debatable, but it is interesting to me how poorly the US scores in education in comparison to Canada... Health is not-so-suprising...

I've always thought it was generally understood that the US public education wasn't top notch, outside of a handful of prestigious schools?

[BLAZE_MkIV]

The US public education system is currently designed to produce factory workers. There has been very little local or national effort to adapt it for the current white collar job market. Which means you have to spend crazy money for an undergrad education before you're employable. Even though 50% of it's not applicable and 20% of it should have been taught in grade school.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV 

The US public education system is currently designed to produce factory workers. There has been very little local or national effort to adapt it for the current white collar job market. Which means you have to spend crazy money for an undergrad education before you're employable. Even though 50% of it's not applicable and 20% of it should have been taught in grade school.

What do you mean by 50% of "it" not being applicable? What is it, and applicable to what?

[subego]

"It" sounds like "the education you receive in college", and "applicable to what" would be everything which comes after said education.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by subego 

"It" sounds like "the education you receive in college", and "applicable to what" would be everything which comes after said education.

If that is so, I would strongly disagree with the notion of turning our Universities into trade schools. That would have the opposite effect.

I think American universities are still ranked very highly, there is a reason why they still attract a lot of international students. The problem with our education system probably relates more to K-12, getting people into university/college, and how Americans fare before and after university/college who go into school with the wrong attitude. I don't care whether you go to Harvard or Devry, if you go into your schooling just hyper-focused on getting some job and not really in it to grow your mind, intellectual capacity, and critical thinking skills you are not going to get much out of your schooling. The problem is with this culture and these people, not the schools themselves except for catering to that mentality to some extent.

University is not enter, get passing grade, graduate, magic presto out comes a job - just add water style.

[chabig]

Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV 

The US public education system is currently designed to produce factory workers.

I thought it was designed to produce democrats.

[subego]

@besson...

I think part of your point is covered by the assertion that 20% should be taught in grade school.

Likewise, I don't think turning universities into trade schools is the solution, but I think removing some of the stigma of only having gone to trade school is part of the solution.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by subego 

@besson...

I think part of your point is covered by the assertion that 20% should be taught in grade school.

Likewise, I don't think turning universities into trade schools is the solution, but I think removing some of the stigma of only having gone to trade school is part of the solution.

Perhaps. For some occupations and for some people a trade school is the better route and removing the stigma would be a good thing. Still, I think we also need to fight aggressively against those that want to turn our universities and colleges into trade schools.

[BLAZE_MkIV]

It's not about job specific skills. IMHO there's a severe lack of critical thinking and self learning skills taught in grade schools. It's mostly focused on rote memorization. Ex college level physics goes into how the theories came about were grade school is just about memorizing the formulas. Farms and assembly line workers don't need those kind of skills though. Just enough math to balance a checkbook but not enough to understand how compound interest effects a credit card balance.

[besson3c]

Blaze: I agree, but are you suggesting that school at the K-12 level should be catered for different people and where they are likely to end up in life?

[BLAZE_MkIV]

No. As much as possible they should be treated the same. I don't think grade schoolers have enough experience to make those kinds of decisions. I am however for tracking, were subject difficulty is scaled to the abilities of the student because talent / effort varies and I don't like the idea of people being held back. (not to be confused with not being promoted a grade)

[besson3c]

So how can what you propose be implemented?

[BLAZE_MkIV]

I'm a programmer not a teacher or psychologist. There's probably a bunch of papers written by knowledgeable people in the subject. School boards are so disconnected and filled with petty politics that it won't happen.

So my proposal for implementing it is to make me dictator and I'll try to be benevolent and get it done. Right after the lawyer purges.

-edit-
Had an idea, make serving in political office random like jury duty.