tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17501440.post115817062597459357..comments2023-08-20T07:26:25.416-04:00Comments on Walker Economics Blog: Divergence Between Test Scores & Economic PerformanceMichael Arjonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06189327401592258439noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17501440.post-1158282048219258732006-09-14T21:00:00.000-04:002006-09-14T21:00:00.000-04:00The first thing I wondered after reading the artic...The first thing I wondered after reading the articles is how Americans "people" skills, if tested, would compare to those of Japanese people or any other country with a more difficult school system. I think that its possible that the US is so productive by comparison because of how we've been taught to handle situations. The article mentions the emphasis we put on self expression and without a doubt I believe we benefit from that. If two people are extremely smart, but one happens to be better at communicating, then that person is more likely that the people around him will benefit from his knowledge. Not the genious who has problems speaking to his peers. So perhaps Americans are just better at working together than students from other countries who have grown up in an extremely competitive academic environment. Kids from these countries may have a hard time working together because all they've ever been taught is how to be the best. The second thing that I thought of after reading this article was how little sense it made to only minimally prepare yourself before going into the workforce. Students from these other countries are given just enough taste of freedom that when it comes time to work, they may have become very lazy. All the work ethic has deteriorated leaving young men and woman going into the professional world at a large dissadvantage. American students are worked up to being the best they can and improve themselves gradually. It seems like the Japanese just wear themselves out too early and when it's most important to do well, they're over it by then. Also there is no way high school is enough preparation for a specific job. So to slack off in the final years is almost dangerous to production. Thats when you should be learning most. College is definintely not the time or place to "take a break"<BR/>-LaurenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17501440.post-1158279892268680662006-09-14T20:24:00.000-04:002006-09-14T20:24:00.000-04:00I feel that the information that is on most Ameri...I feel that the information that is on most American tests is not very important as most people will not have jobs where they have to know physics, calculus, and about the famous wars throughout history. Plus most of the stuff you are tested on you will forget after a year or two. Insstead American schools are teaching kids how to learn. In other words they are learning how to study and handle heavy course loads so that when they go to college they can focus on what they wnat to do for a living. Another thing is that in the business world the ability to present your knowledge is just as if not more important then your actual knowledge. The ability to communicate and explain your point has become the key to success in America.<BR/> Chris GetzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com