THE LETTERS: Fabulous Finland must be praised!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019

An embarrassment of letters:
In December 2019, the New York Times attempted two substantial presentations about the current state of American public schools.

Bad news! On December 3, the Times presented a front-page report about the 2019 Pisa scores. In print editions, the gloomy report appeared beneath this headline:
School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test
Oof! The Times' front page report painted a gloomy picture about the state of American schools.

On the other hand, good news! On December 6, the Times published this upbeat opinion column. The column included a type of information which is rarely allowed to appear in major American newspapers.

According to the opinion column, Mississippi's fourth-graders have been recording large score gains in reading on the Naep. Online, the column appears beneath this upbeat headline:
There Is a Right Way to Teach Reading, and Mississippi Knows It
The column offered a somewhat implausible explanation for the apparent good news from this high-poverty state. Mississippi began stressing phonics instruction in 2013, and that's when the reading scores rose. According to this upbeat column, that's the right way to teach reading!

The nation was "stagnant" and "disappointing;" Mississippi was on the rise. So the Times had reported.

On Sunday, December 22, the Times published a set of nine letters in which readers discussed these two presentations. Inevitably, as if by law, one of the letters described the educational greatness of fabulous Finland:
LETTERS TO THE NEW YORK TIMES (12/22/19): The stagnant results of the international PISA exam have spoken: An extensive overhaul in the American education system is desperately needed. Although myriad troubles plague American schools—from lack of support for immigrant students to inequalities between schools—part of the solution may lie in one of the countries that outperformed us on the PISA exam: Finland.

Our country has sought to boost test scores by introducing a multitude of standardized tests,
essentially forcing teachers to center their class around preparing for these tests rather than teaching their students foundational skills. In Finnish schools, students are subject to almost no standardized tests, yet Finnish students surpassed American students in the PISA exam.

In our desperation to improve academic achievement, our country has fostered a culture obsessed with test results, yet, ironically, this fixation only serves as a detriment to America’s academic performance on the international stage.

R— J—
Fairfax, Virginia
"In our desperation," we've overtested—and fabulous Finland has not! This seems to explain why miraculous Finland "outperformed us on the Pisa."

Finland—a small, middle-class, unicultural nation—did outperform us on the Pisa. Or at least, Finland achieved this distinction depending on the way you choose to evaluate basic Pisa data.

That said, did Finland "outperform us on the Pisa" because we've been testing too much? Almost surely, that isn't the case. Indeed, it isn't even all that clear that Finland's schools outperformed our own schools at all, depending on the way you choose to analyze Pisa data.

Did Finland's miraculous schools really outperform our own? Tomorrow, we'll show you why we aren't hugely inclined to adopt that sweeping assessment. We'll also show you why that assessment tends to misdirect our view—tends to direct our attention away from The Very Large Problem We Actually Do Face.

For today, let's make a few notes about the nine letters the New York Times chose to publish:

On balance, we'd say those letters constitute a major embarrassment. On balance, we'd say they constitute an indictment of our upper-end journalistic discourse, not of our public schools.

We'd say those letters were an embarrassment. What was their general thrust?

The first seven letters all responded to the Times' front-page report about the 2019 Pisa scores. All seven adopted the gloomy assessment which suffused that front-page report.

All seven writers seemed to accept the assessment the Times had dispensed. In the letter we've posted, the writer declared that "an extensive overhaul" of our education system "is desperately needed."

As a general matter, these seven writers tended to agree with this sweeping assessment, though they offered a wide array of explanations concerning what has gone wrong. The letter we've posted deserves special treatment because of the fidelity it displays to a treasured journalistic script.

All hail mighty Finland! In the year 2000, Finland scored surprisingly well on the initial Pisa tests. In so doing, Finland became the instant poster child of bungled educational assessment.

For reasons we'll touch on tomorrow, Finland's star has lost a bit of its shine in recent years. But upper-end journalistic law still seems to hold that a selection of letters like these must include a paean to miraculous Finland, a small, middle-class, unicultural nation which faces none of the educational challenges larger nations may confront.

All hail wondrous Finland! According to the letter we've posted, Finland "outperformed us on the Pisa" because we conduct too much testing in our schools and fabulous Finland doesn't.

It may well be that our public schools do conduct too much testing. But to what extent did mighty Finland really prevail on this year's Pisa tests? To what extent did fabulous Finland outperform the U.S. at all?

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the record, employing just the tiniest bit of statistical sophistication. When we do, it seems to us that our actual problem swims into view, while a sweeping indictment of U.S. schools (surprisingly) disappears.

In our view, those nine letters in the Times are an embarrassment, but they're also a road map. While decrying the failure of American schools, they actually display the familiar dumbness of our upper-end journalistic discourse.

Is something hopelessly wrong with "our educational system?" Is something hopelessly wrong across the board—possibly caused by too much testing, to cite one familiar villain? If we just made a change in our testing procedures, would our test scores on the Pisa match those of wonderful Finland?

Praise for Finland has been required ever since the first Pisa tests. So has the upper-end journalistic incompetence which helps define the state of our failing nation in this, the third year of Donald J. Trump.

Tomorrow: Miraculous Finland outperformed

After that: Mississippi (not actually) rising

31 comments:

  1. Well, Finland is certainly bigger than Mississippi, and you don't mind analyzing the (supposed) miracle there, dear Bob.

    So, why such contempt for Finland?

    And yes, it's a country with relatively homogeneous culture and socioeconomic conditions. Perhaps that's the main reason, dear Bob?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Immigrants are 7.3% of the Finnish population. That is greater than the % of African Americans in many US states. You could call some US states monocultures too. Do such states do better on PISA or do they have their own problems? Utah comes to mind. Blacks are less than 2% but 70% live in Salt Lake City. Are there majority-minority schools in that city and how do they do? Is poverty a problem there despite the very small black population? Or do they outperform Finland?

      Somerby pat answer about why Finland does well is ridiculous. It is entirely possible that Finland has some favorable practices that we do not, such as smaller class sizes, universal pre-K, or some such. But Somerby won't discuss actual schooling issues. It is only about demographics for him, perhaps because he only knows how to talk about %s and not modern education.

      Delete
    2. "Is poverty a problem there despite the very small black population?"

      Sorry, I don't know what "black population" is.

      Poverty, by itself, is not necessarily the main problem. At least not the American version of poverty, where no one is actually starving or can't afford a pair of shoes.

      It seems to me, the absence of middle-class culture might be the main problem.

      Delete
    3. Lots of people in America are starving and lots cannot afford a pair of shoes. When it comes to kids, they experience neglect (parents who are unaware of when they are hungry or not) and they grow out of their shoes but parents don't notice and don't replace their outgrown or worn out shoes.

      Malnutrition, which is different than starvation, also happens to kids when adults don't pay attention to their diet and kids are scrounging what they can find to eat or eat junk food all the time. The result is poor learning and also failure to thrive (growth beneath normal curves for increases in height and weight).

      "black population" is population of African Americans, also known as "black" in our culture, by self-designation.

      Poverty is a serious problem in Utah. Utah does have a growing tech sector and lots of jobs in urban areas but not in small cities and rural areas of the state.

      Try this: https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2019/02/17/commentary-utah-needs/

      "But for the 10 percent of Utahns who live in our state’s 16 rural counties, the boom looks more like a bust. According to Alliance for a Better Utah Education Fund’s new report, “Reaching Across the Urban-Rural Divide,” rural counties share some traits they would rather leave behind them. They have the highest poverty rates, the highest unemployment rates, the lowest incomes and the lowest percentages of college graduates."

      Delete
    4. ""black population" is population of African Americans"

      I don't know what that is either. I don't see why it would matter if someone self-identifies as 'African'.

      Like I said, income is unlikely to be the main issue. Impoverished family of an engineer or college professor would probably do better, education-wise, than family of a well-to-do prostitute or drug dealer.

      It's the attitude that counts, not wearing expensive shoes and eating filet mignon.

      Delete


    5. I want to give a big thanks to a great spell caster commonly known as DR TAKUTA for the great spiritual prayers he did in my life by bringing my ex-lover back to me after many months of breakup and loneliness. With this, I am convinced that you are sent to this word to rescue people from heartbreaks and also to help us get the solution to every relationship problem. for those of you out there who have one relationship problem or the other why not contact DR TAKUTA. that is the best place you can solve all your problems, including a lack of jobs and promotions, binding and marriage spells, divorce and attraction spells, good luck and lotto spells, he has herbal medicine to cure any type of diseases and infections and medicine for infertility, and pregnancy spells, and also the business success and customer increase, winning court cases and many more. contact him at takutaspellalter@gmail.com or contact mobile contact +27788634102














































































      I want to give a big thanks to a great spell caster commonly known as DR TAKUTA for the great spiritual prayers he did in my life by bringing my ex-lover back to me after many months of breakup and loneliness. With this, I am convinced that you are sent to this word to rescue people from heartbreaks and also to help us get the solution to every relationship problem. for those of you out there who have one relationship problem or the other why not contact DR TAKUTA. that is the best place you can solve all your problems, including a lack of jobs and promotions, binding and marriage spells, divorce and attraction spells, good luck and lotto spells, he has herbal medicine to cure any type of diseases and infections and medicine for infertility, and pregnancy spells, and also the business success and customer increase, winning court cases and many more. contact him at takutaspellalter@gmail.com or contact mobile contact +27788634102



















































      Delete
  2. “School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test

    Oof! The Times' front page report painted a gloomy picture about the state of American schools. “

    Think about the headline: “School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test.” The PISA results are stagnant. That is not in dispute. The article specifically places that in the context of *school reforms* enacted over the last twenty years. Thus, the point is to examine and critique school reforms whose specific purpose was to “lift US on global test”, which, again, did not happen. The point of the article was not to rate our schools “bad” and call for yet more reforms. It is the reforms themselves which are questioned.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Although myriad troubles plague American schools—from lack of support for immigrant students to inequalities between schools..."

    These specific problems can exist regardless of the direction of PISA scores: up, down or stagnant. It sounds like this reader is using other information beyond the article published to determine the status of our schools. I don't understand how Somerby can single out this letter without considering that other information about manifest problems still existing in our schools. He could, for example, mention the overemphasis on PISA while such problems go unaddressed. But that might take some actual thinking, beyond his tiresome statistical carping.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bob’s post kind of rang a bell for me, after reading a recent post:

    “Schooling and the Labor Market.”

    “Schooling, from pre-K through college, shapes the labor market. The U.S. school system is a multi-tiered system, preparing people for different levels in the workforce. Certain areas of education receive attention—which means funds—according to the needs of employers, as demonstrated by the emphasis in recent years on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. The structure of the school system, good or bad, is not a “natural” phenomenon, but it greatly affects the operation of the labor market and the distribution of income.”

    The above was a description of things in the U.S. What matters, actualIy, in other societies? I’ll admit an extraorinary amount of ignorance of Pisa scoring, not to mention educational issues. Only reason I know about it, in fact, is this website. Though I don’t have any children, I appreciate the gimlet eye with which Somerby Somerby casts his gaze.

    But the question is legit. Why Finland? Could it be that their focus goes way beyond testing? No effing idea.

    Leroy

    ReplyDelete
  5. '. So has the upper-end journalistic incompetence which helps define the state of our failing nation in this, the third year of Donald J. Trump.'

    Not to mention the attitudes of those who claim to be liberals but spend their time defending Donald Trump and Roy Moore, in short acting like Trumptards.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My Name is Dr sebi you can Contact Me via Email drsebicurecenter@gmail.com For Penis Enlargement Product to help you get as long as 8inches Long with good Erection. Contact Me Via Email : drsebicurecenter@gmail.com Via WhatsApp +2347010538590

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello everyone reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my husband after three(3) years of marriage just because another woman had a spell on him and he left me and the kid to suffer. One day when I was reading through the web, I saw a post on how this spell caster Dr irosi have help a woman to get back her husband and I gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a woman had a spell on my husband and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that I will have my husband back. I believed him and today I am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back because I am now happy with my husband. Thanks for His great work here is his email: drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com Or call his number +2348118829771 Contact Dr irosi and get your relationship problem solved.    

    ReplyDelete
  9. I Want To Appreciate Dr.OYAGU for hs great deeds, I Was Diagnosed With type 2 Herpes Virus Last year,And Was Looking For Solution To Be Cured Luckily I Saw Testimonies On How Dr.OYAGU Cure Herpes Virus I Decided To Contact Dr.OYAGU I Contacted Him He Prepared A Herbal Medicine Portion And Sent It To Me,I Started The Herbal Medicine For My Health.He Gave Me Step By Step Instructions On How To Apply It, When I Applied It As Instructed, I Was Cured Of This Deadly Herpes Within 2 weeks, I Am Now Herpes Negative.My Brother And Sister I No That There Are So Many People That Have There Same Herpes Virus Please contact Dr OYAGU To Help You Too,And Help Me To Thank Dr.OYAGU For Cure Me, I’m Cured By Dr. OYAGU Herbal Medicine,His Contact Email:oyaguherbalhome@gmail.com

    Or Cell Whatsapp Number +2348101755322 thank you

    ReplyDelete
  10. Taco Bell knows that by including different people, ideas and perspectives, they will grow their workplace culture, encouraging team members to feel uniquely valued and engaged, allowing them to reach or achieve their full potential.

    Employeebenefits.onl

    ReplyDelete
  11. Investing online has been a main source of income,that's why knowledge plays a very important role in humanity,you don't need to over work yourself for money.All you need is the right information,and you could build your own wealth from the comfort of your home!Binary trading is dependent on timely signals,assets or controlled strategies which when mastered increases chance of winning up to 90%-100% with trading. It’s possible to earn $10,000 to $20,000 trading weekly-monthly,just file a complaint with  Robert,I had almost given up on everything about binary trading and ever getting my lost funds back,till i met with him,with his help now i have my lost funds back to my bank account and I can now trade successfully with his profitable strategies and software!! Email: Robertseaman939@gmail.com or Fb.me/investandmakemoney1 or  whatsApp: +44 7466 770724

    ReplyDelete
  12. In this online kohl’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, customers will be presented with a simple and easy kohl’s Customer Survey Questionnaire.

    kohl’s Customer Survey Questionnaire

    ReplyDelete
  13. IS TIME TO END HERPES VIRUS.  it was once said that there is no problem without a solution, herpes virus has a complete cure to 100% negative , few doctors have this cure to herpes virus but they are very scared to come out and showcase it to the world because what happen to Doctor Sabi after he has review him self to the world that he can cure major virus, disease and infections, he was killed in a cold blood, the medical sector have cure to this virus but because of the sales made in all kind of vaccine they refuse to disclose the cure to the general public because they believe once you are cured from this virus you will no longer buy vaccine to suppress the virus. they want you to buy vaccine in the rest of your life to suppress this virus. please believe me today, i was cured from HERPES 1 & 2 with the use of Africa herbal MEDICINE by  doctor MOHAMMED, I know there are scam in the internet that is why i came out to  comment here so you could know the right herbal doctor who can cure this virus. please contact this doctor. he cured me. herbalcure12@gmail.com whatsapp/call {+2349036036397}. i am so happy today that i came across this herbal doctor , i saw so many comment about him so i decided to give him a try , thank God it work for me and i so much believe it will work for you also

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just got my ex husband back through the help of Dr OSOFO love spells Experts!..My husband left me for another woman, This was just 2 years of our marriage. The most painful thing is that I was pregnant with our second baby. I wanted him back. I did everything within my reach to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so badly because of the love I had for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to my friend and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back , I had no choice than to try it. I messaged the spell caster call Dr OSOFO and he assured me there was no problem and that everything will be okay before 11 hours. He cast the spell and surprisingly 9 hours later my husband called me. I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that had happened He wanted me to return to him. He also said he loved me so much. I was so happy andent to him that was how we started living together happily again.thanks to man, do not cry anymore, contact Dr.OSOFO for help now..Here his contact, WhatsApp him: +2349065749952 {or} Email him at: ( osofo.48hoursolutioncenter@gmail.com )  

    ReplyDelete
  15. shoe-carnival-survey
    https://customerfeedback.onl/Share your visit experience at www.bigy.com/survey & grab the Chance to Win a $250 Big Y Gift Card by entering into Big Y Sweepstake.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A big Thanks to you doctor Just confirm am completely cure free from hsv with the help of his wonderful herbs medicine, may God continue to bless you and your wonderful herbs medicine thanks so much Dr Abubaka anyone looking for any herbs medicine should kindly contact Dr Abubaka to place your order for his lovely herbs medicine Via email: DrAbubaka@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +2349051703820

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was diagnosed of herpes virus, I have tried all possible means to get cure but all my effort proved abortive, until a friend of mine introduced me to a herbal doctor called Dr Agaba, who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases including herpes virus (Herpes), when i contacted this herbal doctor via email, he sent me herpes virus herbal medicine via courier service, when i received the herbal medicine he gave me step by step instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed i was totally cured from the virus within 3 weeks of usage. Contact this great herbal doctor today to get your cure. 
    Via Email: Dragabasolutionhome@gmail.com or WhatApp: +2349074536486

    ReplyDelete
  18. If You’re looking For Zili For PC Then You Are At Right Place Because In This Article I Have Written About How To Download Zili For Pc.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bank of America Employee Resources At Home is the Bank of America Benefits and resources portal offered to the authorized personnel and registered employees from the Bank of America, where the users can access critical business information, personal database, and benefits offered to them on their fingertips.
    Bank of America Employee Login



    ReplyDelete
  20. Do you need personal loan?
    Loan for your home improvements,
    Mortgage loan,
    Debt consolidation loan,
    Commercial loan,
    Education loan,
    Car loan,
    Loan for assets.
    financialserviceoffer876@gmail.com Whatsapp +918929509036

    ReplyDelete
  21. LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
    Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever

    ReplyDelete