Précis 1

To Foster High Achievers, Think Beyond the Classroom  by Robert Samuelson

 

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/10/to-foster-high-achievers-think-beyond-the-classroom.html

 

1. to bemoan (v, transitive, formal) - to complain or say that you are disappointed about something: He was bemoaning the fact that lawyers charge so much; an article bemoaning the lack of sports facilities in the area.

 

2. to founder (v, intransitive, formal) - to fail after a period of time because something has gone wrong: Their marriage began to founder soon after the honeymoon. Plans for a new stadium have foundered for lack of funds.

 

3. to swamp (verb, transitive, usually in passive) - to be swamped by/with - to suddenly give someone a lot of work, problems etc to deal with: We've been swamped with phone calls since the advert appeared. Online bookshops were swamped with orders during the pre-Christmas rush.

- (usually passive) to enter somewhere, or to surround someone, in very large numbers: The hotel foyer was swamped by reporters and photographers.

- to affect someone in a major way, so that they are almost unable to deal with their feelings or with a particular situation: Fear for her children threatened to swamp her.   

 

4. glaring (adj) - very bad and very noticeable [= obvious]: The book's most glaring omission is the lack of an index.; a glaring example of political corruption

- too bright and difficult to look at: the glaring light of high noon

 

5. mobility (n, uncountable) - the ability to move easily from one job, area, or social class to another, coll. social mobility, upward/downward mobility, mobility of: There is greater mobility of labour (=movement of workers) between jobs and areas.

- the ability to move easily: It improves the strength and mobility of joints. The key to the army's effectiveness is its increased mobility.

 

6. persistent (adj, usually before noun) - continuing to exist or happen, especially for longer than is usual or desirable: persistent rumours, persistent headaches, a persistent problem, persistent rain

- continuing to do something, although this is difficult, or other people warn you not to do it: If she hadn't been so persistent she might not have gotten the job. Persistent offenders (=people who often break the law) face a prison sentence.

 

7. to inhibit (v, transitive) - to prevent something from growing or developing well: An unhappy family life may inhibit children's learning.

- to make someone feel embarrassed or nervous so that they cannot do or say what they want to inhibit somebody from doing something: Recording the meeting may inhibit people from expressing their real views.

 

8. attainment (n, uncountable, formal) - success in achieving something or reaching a particular level [= achievement]: a low level of educational attainment; Salaries are based on the attainment of production targets.

- (countable) something that you have succeeded in doing or having: educational/academic attainments

 

9. headway (n) - make headway: to make progress towards achieving something - used especially when this is difficult (make headway towards/in/with etc): Foreign firms have made little headway in the U.S. market.

- to move forwards - used especially when this is slow or difficult: Stormy weather stopped the ship from making headway.

 

10. accountability (n, uncountable) - a situation in which people know who is responsible for something and can ask them to explain its state or quality: There have been calls for greater accountability within the health service; public officials lacking accountability.

 

 

Almost all American authorities are in agreement about the bad influence of the US K-12 education on America’s competitiveness. They all see the need for urgent school reforms, but it seems they may be wrong.

Government and global market related factors affect the US economy far more than education does. Moreover, the recent OECD study of the reading skills of 15-yr olds shows that American schools do as well as those in other wealthy countries.

The study (PISA) was carried out in 65 countries all over the world (the 34 wealthiest nations included). The US ranked 17^th, which is a satisfactory, although not a spectacular result.

In addition, this result may be misleading because of the US’ racial and ethnic diversity. White non-Hispanic and Asian American students scored as high as students from top 10 countries, such as Canada, Australia or Japan. However, the results of black and Hispanic American students were dramatically lower. The growing number of those students makes any attempts at diminishing this gap a real challenge for American schools.

Contrary to the popular belief, schools alone are not capable of solving this problem, as the bad social and family background seems to be the key factor in hindering such children’s educational development.

Changing this means overcoming historical and cultural legacy and requires more than another educational reform. The results may be more of social than economic importance.