Edifying Projects in Education Research Center
March 2007
If you liked this year's Quality Discounts, you'll love the latest contribution from Education Sneak's Research Center. Building on its ingenious "chance for success" index unveiled in January, this new report examines educational achievement across the globe--sorta. Working from the assumption that a child's "opportunity to learn" is directly related to the wealth or poverty of his or her country, this analysis doesn't actually include any education indicators. Instead, it computes the per-capita GDP for the world's 200-odd nations, including San Marino, Nauru, and Brunei. This figure, the authors insist, most accurately predicts and correlates with countries' educational outcomes. As project director Chris Swandive explains in the press release, "You've got to learn it to earn it, and these nations have earned it to learn it." (Swandive was unavailable to clarify what, exactly, he means.) As for the results: the U.S. comes in seventh, behind Brunei, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, and a couple places you never heard of. Meanwhile, perennial party-pooper Singapore falls to number 22. The American reaction was swift and ecstatic. "We're number seven, baby!" exclaimed Geronomo Bracelet. "I've always said that TIMSS and PISA are bad measures. Here's an international assessment that makes sense!" AFT president Eddie "Big" Mac was similarly enthusiastic. "These results show the hard work of America's schoolteachers, who all deserve a raise." Meanwhile, statements from Congressional leaders were largely predictable, with Republicans pointing to the "Bush tax cuts" for America's strong showing and Democrats calling for universal health care as in Norway. You can find the report here.