Failing Our Brightest Kids: The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students

ISBN-13: 9781612508412 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 312 str.

Jr. Chester E. Finn; Brandon L. Wright

Opis

In this provocative volume, Chester E. Finn, Jr., and Brandon L. Wright argue that, for decades, the United States has done too little to focus on educating students to achieve at high levels. The authors identify two core problems: First, compared to other countries, the United States does not produce enough high achievers. Second, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are severely underrepresented among those high achievers. The authors describe educating students to high levels of achievement as an issue of both equity and human capital: talented students deserve appropriate resources and attention, and the nation needs to develop these students abilities to remain competitive in the international arena.

The authors embark on a study of twelve countries and regions to address these issues, exploring the structures and practices that enable some countries to produce a higher proportion of high-achieving students than the United States and to more equitably represent disadvantaged students among their top scorers. Based on this research, the authors present a series of ambitious but pragmatic points that they believe should inform US policy in this area.

This candid and engaging book takes a topic that is largely discussed behind closed doors and puts it squarely on the table for public debate.
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Spis treści

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• PART I
• The Challenge of EducatingHigh-Ability Children
• Educating Smart Kids: Why Bother?
• How Is the United States Doing?
• How Disagreement Holds Us Back
• How the System Slows Us Down
• Will Differentiation Move Us Forward?
• PART II
• Beyond Our Borders
• How Do Other Countries Educate Smart Kids?
• Japan: Early Neglect, Later Intensity
• Singapore: Enough of a Good Thing?
• Korea: Too Much Pressure?
• Taiwan: Do as We Say, Not as We Do
• Finland: Not Quite as Advertised
• Germany: Differentiating Without Differences
• Hungary: Much Talk, Less Action
• Switzerland: Decentralized to Excess?
• England: Sifting Through the Policy Rubble
• Ontario: How “Special” Is “Gifted”?
• Western Australia: In for the Long Haul
• PART III
• Toward the Future
• What Have We Learned?
• Moves America Should Make
• Afterword
• Appendix
• Notes
• About the Authors
• Index