Erin Marsman Journal Response American Educator Winter 1998 "The TIMSS Videotape Study"

Sometimes as a teacher I find it frustrating to be always compared to other countries, schools, classrooms and districts. I think it is very unfair to compare two different things which seems to happen often. In the TIMSS report they are comparing Germany, Japan and the U.S. math in several areas. What I don't understand is how they can compare different countries teaching when the countries each value it in different ways. Teachers in the U.S. are trained differently then those in Japan so of course they teaching will look differently. It is unfair to compare two different things and then say one is better than another when they are nothing alike from the start.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 1999

Answers

I agree that it is unfair to compare the U.S. to other countries. There are so many other factors to be considered other than how a subject is taught. How many other countries have the organized sports programs in which it takes at least two hours a day to participate? How many other countries have a signifcant percentage of students working after school? In other countries is the opinion on educational issues of the general public considered of more value than that of the professional educators? Do other countries need metal detectors at the doors and armed security guards patrolling the halls? If they want an accurate comparison find a country exactly like ours. (I bet we come out on top!)

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999