Why Most American can't do the Math?

It's actually not American can't do Math, it's just that they are SLOW and NOT EFFICIENT! Something that can be done within seconds, may take them up to few minutes. Just imagine something that may take less than an hour, that may take them few hours to solve. This doesn't occur only in Math, but also in any situation.

Of course, there are those who can do thing and think fast, but the proportion is comparable low 90/10; where 90% of the American are below average compared to other countries. Now, is this the fault of American? Yes and No!

Yes! Because a lot of American want to have short cut, without building strong foundation. Most of them don't like to think, want to enjoy, high self-esteem, low self-discipline, and lazy! Hmm... sounds like American are worthless. Well, of course not, most of these may not what the American want at first. It's just what had been done past 30 years in their Education systems. The so-called educators had "destroyed" the generations. Is that bad? Yes and No again! They did nurture great scholar and successful people, but very handful of them, compared to the general success like China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong etc. The average and below average students from those countries are considered the top 5%-10% of U.S. It's very sad to know that and to admit that American are actually way behind of the Global Standard!

What should we do? Build the teachers first, and have the right person, with REAL Experience, to do the job!

What Happen to the US Elementary and Middle School Education?

If you are raised in other countries and completed your high school there before coming to US for your higher education, most of you will find out why it is so easy in US, and most of what you are learning in US perhaps the first 2-3 years of colleges, were what you learned back to your high schools. Well, of course, most students in US don't admit that they are behind, but you know that you are ahead of them. For example, in High School, if you are taking Chemistry, you will have to study Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Lab Experiment in your 2-3 years High School if you are in Science Stream, and another 1-2 year in Pre-college (12-13th grade). The Exam consist of about 10-20% MC, 40% Free respond, 40% Essay, and 10% lab,o which is very different from the US AP Chemistry format which usually consist of about 60% MC.

The question is why students in US always find out AP is difficult and yet they have very High Esteem even they may not know their subjects very well. When there is something a little more difficult, they will stress out. US always accuse the East put too much stress on students, which I agree 100%, but on the other hand, US has spoilt the students here!!!

The past 30 years, US has moving backwards in terms of education, that's why the education, especially the teachers who are in their 20-40s, they are not equiped to teach. MOST (not all), which is about 90% of the teachers, are not well prepared and are not aware of what outside this countries, and yet they often claimed themselves educators and received awards and recognitions that may be just overestimate their abilities as compared to the "GLOBAL STANDARD".

Students are students, and they are still kids, and adult must be able to guide them, not helping them to find EXCUSES for not able to learn or study. I personally am not going to deny the efforts the teachers have been putting in because I have met great teachers, but it's just a handful of them.

In order to help building our next generation, teachers MUST BE able to build themselves too, academically and personally! Right attitude is the key! Learning from the world instead of always thinking within the box.

New Year Resolution!

It's been a while that I haven't done anything on this blog. Besides getting a little lazy, the main point was that I have yet been trying to figure out what should I focus on. I want to hear from my heart and need some time to listen to it. It has been a wild ride for 2008, and I enjoy every bit of it.

Things happened and messages were sent to me strongly by letting me experienced and saw them. FAMILY! Yup! Family issues! A lot of families may seem perfect, no fault, but is it healthy in the sense that there maybe a lot of hidden conflicts among the family members, or lack of communication. Do parents actually understand their kids, or do he kids understand their parents on the other hand. Questions arose. I have seen great family, and I have seen broken family. I have talked to them and I have experienced it. I will start to write twice a week on issues that I have encountered either before or recently. There maybe no solution, or we just an opinion, or maybe if someone happened to drop by and want to give some suggestions or opinions, you are very welcome.

Just a new start!