Another sign of poor state of U.S. education

A couple weeks ago the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) released its 2009 test results and many people in the U.S. were shocked at how poorly U.S. students performed against other countries. In reading, math and science the U.S. ranked well down the list between 20 and 30. Even more ominous is that Shanghai-China ranked first in all three categories. That’s the future of the world right there -the next generation of Chinese will dominate.

To be fair, the student population was obviously stacked to ensure the Chinese would have high scores. They tested only selected students from Shanghai which has the top education in China and is not representative at all of educational standards elsewhere. That is the Chinese way after all, complete fake in all ways – the way they faked the Olympics proceedings with pre-recorded footage of fireworks and lip-synching by the singer is a classic example of how fake China is to the core.

Nevertheless, U.S. students perform poorly compared to much of the rest of the world. And a new sign of just how poorly comes from a report that 25% of people who try to enter the military fail the entrance exam. Military leaders grow more concerned every day with their future ability to assemble a capable defense. Previously they warned that childhood obesity and early onset of diabetes represented a national security threat. Now they are concerned that 25% of applicants can’t answer simple questions like “If 2 plus x equals 4, what is the value of x?”

Message from Liu Xiaobao

I read a quote from this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobao, a statement he made in December 2009, and wanted to share this part:

Freedom of expression is the basis of human rights, the source of humanity and the mother of truth. To block freedom of speech is to trample on human rights, to strangle humanity and to suppress the truth.

Anyone in Thai government listening? PM Abhisit, are you ever going to make a stand for freedom of expression for your people? Or continue the heinous repression that is ongoing?

As an aside, it is very sad that last year’s prize went to Obama. That so degrades and defaces the prize. How could they do such a thing?