The Smartest Kids In The World

The Smartest Kids In The World

For much of her journalistic career Amanda Ripley avoided
education stories like the plague. They seemed to her to be too soft,
too devoid of real evidence...a waste of professional time and ink.
Then she was assigned to a story that opened her eyes to a wealth of
data. She began to wonder why some children learn so much more than
others. She became particularly interested in the countries that
manage to teach the majority of students critical thinking skills--the
skills most needed in the 21st century workplace.
"Most successful or improving countries seem to fit into three
basic categories: 1) the utopia model of Finland, a system built on
trust in which kids achieved higher-order thinking without excessive
competition or parent meddling; 2) the pressure-cooker model of South
Korea, where kids studied so compulsively that the government had to
institute a study curfew; and 3) the metamorphesis model of Poland, a
country on the ascent, with about as much child poverty as the United
States, but recent and dramatic gains in what kids knew."
What do these countries have to teach America? What is life for
their students like in contrast to that of their peers in the United
States? This is the focus of The Smartest Kids In The World And How
They Got That Way. Ripley chose Finland, Korea, and Poland. In
addition to thorough research she added a fascinating perspective--the
experience of an American exchange student spending a year in each
country.
Much of what you read will be eye opening, some counterintuitive:
*Kids of parents who are very involved in schools American style (fund
raising, coaching) actually do worse than their peers;
*In countries that teach kids critical thinking there is a lot less
investment in technology than in America;
*In these countries teaching is a profession reserved for the best and
brightest;
*Teachers are given more lattitude in choosing texts and curriculum,
in contrast to America's attempts to standardize...
Anyway, in my mind, Ripley's book is a must read for teachers, admin,
and all who want to see American students learning critical thinking
skills rather than fact memorization and the ability to fill in
bubbles. The combination of research and narrative makes it a fun as
well as fascinating and thought-provoking read.
On a personal note, I was very gratified to learn that parents who
want to help their kids master learning and critical thinking will do
best to read to their kids a lot when they're young, talk to them
about world affairs and other complex matters as they grow older, and
all along model reading for fun. All three I excel in. In fact this
evening I am modelling the joy of reading for my son.
A great big shout out goes out to all who strive to give our kids
meaningful education featuring higher order thinking skills.
Julia Emily Hathaway




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