Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Thursday 23 March 2017

Survey finds exchange students think US high schools easier

MARIA DANILOVA American schools to that in spondents said it is “much vice president for research ranked the US 25th out of
Associated Press their home countries. All the more” important to do well and evaluation at Ameri- 50 participating countries,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Easier students were in the U.S. as in sports in the U.S. and 23 can Institutes for Research, below Canada, Britain
classes, less homework and part of the AFS Intercultural percent said “a little more” said that the methodology and Poland. While the av-
lots of sports — this is how Programs, an international important. By contrast, 16 for Loveless’ study does not erage math score for the
American high schools are entire country was 470, the
viewed by students from wealthiest schools scored
other countries studying in 530, similar to Japan and
the U.S. Finland, while the poorest
Despite a push in recent schools scored 427, on par
years to make the U.S. with Chile and United Arab
education system more Emirates.
competitive and effective, “Anybody who tells you
foreign exchange students they generalize about
continue to view American American high schools by
high school experience as just looking at ratings and
much less stimulating, ac- a few numbers is under-
cording to a study pub- estimating the variability
lished Wednesday. in American education,”
“You get this feeling — the Buckley said.
kids from abroad come Martin Carnoy, professor
here, they spend a year, at the Graduate School of
they think that school is eas- Education at Stanford Uni-
ier here,” said Tom Love- versity, said that while some
less, a fellow with the Brown parents abroad like their
Center on Education Policy kids to concentrate solely
with the Brookings Institu- on homework, in the Ameri-
tions. “We think we have Brooklyn College students walk between classes on campus in New York. Easier classes, less can culture many parents
made great strides in mak- homework and lots of sports — this is how American high schools are viewed by students from believe that playing sports
other countries studying in the U.S.
ing our schools more chal- (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) makes one a well-rounded
lenging, here is at least one person and teaches them
outside group that is in fact important social skills such
saying they are not terribly youth exchange organiza- percent said the focus on make sense. as teamwork and persever-
challenging.” tion. math was “much less” in “It’s unlikely that foreign ance. Also, it makes them
While the findings appear Forty-four percent of re- America and 32 percent exchange students are a feel good.
to corroborate interna- spondents said U.S. stu- said it was “a little less,” particularly representative “We do put more emphasis
tional student assessment dents spend “much less” while 40 percent believed sample of their home coun- on sports, we do put more
tests, in which American time on schoolwork than at it was the same as in their tries,” Buckley said, adding emphasis on other activi-
schools trail behind many their home countries, while home countries. Finally, 53 that such students are like- ties, it’s fun!” Carnoy said.
developed countries, some 21 percent thought they percent of respondents ly more ambitious, come “You are a teenager, have
experts disputed the meth- spend “a little less.” Asked, felt it is “much less” impor- from wealthier families and a good time, the rest of life
odology and the underly- how difficult their classes tant to U.S. teens to study a thus attend better schools. is going to be hard. I don’t
ing principles of Loveless’ are in the U.S., 66 percent second language and 27 AFS said that its one-year know If it’s such a condem-
study, saying that foreign said they are “much eas- percent said it was “a little program in the U.S. can nation of our school system.
exchange students did ier” and 24 percent said less” so. cost up to $16,000, though It depends what you want.”
not represent typical teen- “a little easier.” The results “So the kids are saying, in some students get scholar- Abdalla Fadhili Abdalla, 16,
agers in their home coun- were similar compared terms of my peer groups in ships. an exchange student from
tries and that the focus on to a similar study Loveless my home country, our peer Buckley also noted that Kenya agreed with Love-
sports wasn’t necessarily a conducted in 2001, but the culture rewards success American high schools less’ findings, saying he
bad thing. differences were more pro- at math more than it does can be drastically differ- found his U.S. high school to
In the survey conducted nounced. in the U.S. and it does not ent from one another. He be less demanding than at
last spring, 259 teenagers Asked about the impor- reward sports so much,” cited an international stu- home — the days are short-
from various countries com- tance of sports for U.S. Loveless said. dent achievement study er, there are fewer subjects
pared their experience in students, 64 percent of re- But Jack Buckley, senior called PISA which last year and less homework.q