What the New, Low Test Scores for 13-Year-Olds Say About U.S. Education Now
The results are the federal government’s last major data release on the academic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.... #education #us #news
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/us/naep-test-results-education.html
On top of poor test scores for math and reading which may/may not be mostly attributed to the quality of education during pandemic lockdowns.
The percentage of 13-year-olds who reported reading for fun has also declined. Last fall, 31 percent said they “never or hardly ever” read for fun, compared to 22 percent in 2012.
This is tragic, and terrifying.
Anecdotally, I see this in my own kids, but an actively encouraging against these tendencies.
There's a social component that was lost due to the isolation from lockdowns which seems to contribute to a lack of interest in "meatspace," in general that I can't seem to ignore.
It’s phones. Phones are a major problem that no one is willing or able to combat. Schools gave up on trying to ban them because the parents pitch a fit and go to the school board to insist they need to be able to contact their children at all times.
I asked a colleague yesterday if his daughter—who was an avid reader just a few years ago—had checked out the Libby app yet and he said she barely reads now… because she got a cellphone.*
Until we are willing to break ourselves and our children of this addiction education will continue to decline.
*I am aware there is a certain irony in me complaining about cellphones and also recommending an app that is meant to be accessed via cellphone/tablet, but the point still stands!
dismalnow
PuttyRiot