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Posted on Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.

Students say their schoolwork is too easy

By Danielle Arndt

A new, three-year analysis of federal survey data suggests millions of students find school too easy, USA Today reported.

The U.S. Department of Education conducts an annual Assessment of Educational Progress that surveys students throughout the county. The Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank, analyzed these questionnaire results for the past three years in a report released today.

The findings show that many schools across the country are not challenging their students enough or engaging them in rigorous learning activities, especially in the areas of science, social studies and technology.

Among the report highlights:

  • 51 percent of eighth-grade civics students and 57 percent of eighth-grade history students said their course work is “often” or “always” too easy;
  • 39 percent of high schools seniors “rarely” write about what they read in class;
  • 37 percent of fourth-graders said their math work is “often” or “always” too easy.

Seniors also reported not being challenged by their math classes. Just less than 50 percent of 12th-grade students said they “always” or “almost always” learn during math.

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A new report shows many schools across the country are not challenging their students enough, especially in the areas of science, social studies and technology.

AnnArbor.com file photo

The Center for American Progress' analysis also revealed just 20 percent of eighth-graders read more than 20 pages per day either in school or for homework. About 33 percent reported reading less than five pages per day.

The center’s analysis said being prepared for college and the modern-day workforce means having access to high-quality curriculum in the areas of science and technology. However, the center reported 73 percent of eighth-grade science students said they were not taught about technology or engineering.

Ulrich Boser, a senior fellow at the center who co-wrote the report, said in USA Today, the data challenges the “school-as-pressure-cooker” image found in recent movies such as “Race to Nowhere.”

The report said, “You might think the nation’s teenagers are drowning in school work. Images of students buried in textbooks often grace the covers of popular parenting magazines, while suburban teenagers complain about the length of their homework assignments.”

But the “broad swath of American students are not as engaged as much in their schoolwork,” Boser said in USA Today.

The center’s report attests student surveys can provide important insights into teacher effectiveness. It encouraged researchers to continue to develop these surveys.

The center supports the new Common Core standards that will be implemented nationwide by the 2014-15 academic year, USA Today reported. The standards have been adopted by 45 states, according to the article, including Michigan.

Michigan data from the center’s report showed the state is either at or slightly below the national average for the percentage of fourth-graders that said their math work was too easy and the number of pages eighth-graders read per day.

One area Michigan failed at more than other states was access to technology and engineering teachings. Eighty percent of eighth-grade students reported they did not learn about technology and engineering in school, compared to 73 percent nationally.

Sixty-four percent of Michigan eighth-graders said they “always” or “almost always” feel they are learning.

Read the complete Center for American Progress report here.

View the Center's interactive survey results map here.

Read the USA Today article.

Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Comments

Billy Bob Schwartz

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.

Education is not the process of lifting the top of kids' heads off and pouring in information and putting the tops back on. The process isn't even teaching, if this is your definition of teaching. In fact, the process is called learning. Now, who can do the learning? Only the learner can. Yes, the teacher (and parents and other relatives and community members) can help with that process through motivating, and organizing material, and providing and grading homework, and by providing the challenges and other experiences that help the student to learn. Still, the kid must actively work at learning, or it is pretty much a waste of time. A parent may say, "My boy was in that classroom every day, and didn't learn a thing." Well, that's sad, because even a carrot can sit in a room every day and not earn a thing. We need to stop making excuses for our kids and blaming everything on someone else, and help the kids to understand their role in this process, and then help them apply themselves to the learning. Kids nead to read their reading assignments, do their (own) written assignments, ask questions, get help when they are having a hard time of it, and otherwise make every effort to do their best to learn. Thus, if a child is in a class that is too easy, perhaps extra work would be appropriate for that child. Maybe not borrowing someone else's homework and copying it, or copying a book cover description of a book and calling it a book report, or saying at dinner every day (assuming the family has dinner together) in answer to the question, "What did you learn in school today," "Oh, nothing. We just hung out all day. It was real boring," would help. Many kids don't do these things, but many do. A person can get a pretty good education in just about any school if they apply themselves and don't make too many excuses and take responsibility for their own learning.

Mike

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

And the graduation rate and gap continues to grow...........

Plubius

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.

I just took a quick look at the Common Core standards. What an incredible joke - not a single mention of science. More political drivel that will set our country back even further.

apples

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.

What subjects are most 8-11th graders taking in the summer? Which subjects require the most tutoring during or after school. It seems like math skills are very challenging if you don't stay on grade level from elementary on!

Jake C

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.

So you're blaming the teacher because the student failed the class? Whatever happened to personal and parental responsibility for your own actions?

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:19 a.m.

You have to pay for summer school once you hit middle and hi school. So if the child fails a subject, the parent pays for it. Kind of sucks doesn't it when a parent has to pay for a class the child failed because the teacher failed to educate the child in the first place? This was an AAPS school by the way. Go figure that one.

Linda Peck

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:26 p.m.

I do think many teenager children are bored by adults, period. Perhaps this is motivating some of their responses, but truly the most intelligent students must be bored by their classes. It just makes sense. Teach to the middle or lower has always been the case. It was when I was in school. Looking out the window and passing notes did not get me good grades, but then again it was more interesting than what was being said.

Me717

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.

The schools need to track students in order to academically challenge the upper group and allow the bottom group to find an interesting technical skill. I'll never understand why tracking is considered bad, especially since budgets are so tight and it's cost effective. As long as the same amount of resources are distributed to each group I don't see why each group can't find success in a different way.

Jake C

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.

Like jns131 said, that's a "European" system, and even if it worked, American parents would raise a crap-storm about it. The American populace simultaneously wants everyone to have the *opportunity* to attend college, yet they also believe that college is a liberal indoctrination zone, and that college costs are too high and don't prepare our kids for the Real World. Jns131: What if an 8th grader really, really wants to be a janitor, or a mechanic, or a garbage man, and that would make them happy? Are you opposed to letting students and their parents having choices about what their actual strengths are, or do you think it's good to push students towards an Astronaut curriculum even though there's a 0.00000!% chance that student will become an Astronaut?

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.

Sounds similar to what the European countries are doing. UK tests everyone to see where their interests lie and then go from there. As with Germany, they tell the child, you will make a good janitor when in fact the child is aspiring to be a rocket scientist. Kind of sad to be telling children what they can and can not do. UK by the way starts educating their children by age 3. So, is this what we want to do to our children? Be the same as Europe? Or Asia? Just a thought.

sh1

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.

This is the result of a questionnaire. If school is, indeed, too easy, shouldn't we see our kids getting all A's? Yet, they don't, not even close.

Jake C

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:11 a.m.

@Angry Moderate: So smart kids taking easy classes can't get A's because the classes are too easy? And if they were put in harder classes they would suddenly start getting more A's because they are "challenged"? If a kid can't get an A in an easy class, why on earth would they start getting an A in a hard class?

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:24 a.m.

This is where the system fails them. They are in the wrong class. They need to be in a class that stimulates them. As for the rest of us? I don't find hi school easy and neither did my child.

Angry Moderate

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.

Except that many smart kids don't bother working hard in school because it's always too easy and slow-paced for them. Plus, grades often do not reflect intelligence or knowledge--they just reflect willingness to do busy work.

xmo

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:51 p.m.

I wonder why some of us continue to vote against school millage? The schools are not using their money wisely, look at their product? So, why do people whine when the State cuts the budget for a system that does not work? Why throw good money after bad?

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.

Take a look at AAPS reckless spending. Look at the other districts that are closing its doors. There is no more money to be had because teachers are not getting the money from the administration that is spending it on absorbent amounts of fluff and stuff. Blame Balais and blame the administration.

Wolf's Bane

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.

All we had to do back in my day is show up and you got a free pass and a HS Diploma after 4 years. Of course, the fallout was an extra 2 years of college in order to learn how to read and write effectively! HS was nearly a complete waste of time and I attended the AAPS back in 82-86. Just saying.. Let's actually set the bar higher, shall we?

Wolf's Bane

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.

Remedial? Try not challenged enough..

sh1

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.

It sounds like you weren't a motivated student. I went to school around that same time and felt the work was challenging enough. I did not have to take remedial classes in college to "catch up."

Angry Moderate

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.

It's the same now, except that tuition for remedial college courses is much higher.

81wolverine

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.

No surprise here. Anyone who doubts this report, look at where the U.S. falls internationally in rankings of student proficiency in science, math, and reading - despite spending among the highest per student. it isn't pretty.

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.

I hate to say it, but during the Olympic trials? Exon mentioned Poland as number one for education and US as 25. I say good for Poland. What works for one does not always work for everyone else. So why are we trying to keep up with the Jones when our children keep falling further and further behind? Good for them if it is easy. Some children just do not get it. I know mine is struggling.

a2citizen

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.

So does Snyder get blamed or thanked?

dotdash

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.

It's the one-size-fits-all curriculum standards we should be examining, not the level of the standards. Some kids will find it too easy and some too hard, no matter where you place the bar. If you think about it, it's crazy to suppose that 25 kids could all be at the same level in *any* class. Maybe we should be advancing more kids earlier -- putting advanced 3rd graders into 4th grade math rather than waiting until they get tracked in 6th or 7th. Or teaching different levels in the same classroom.

J. A. Pieper

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.

Angry moderate has it right, can't do anything like this in AAPS, because it would be tracking. There is not longer a class ranking for HS students because not enough students of a certain race made the cut. The lowering of the National Honor Society requirements related to GPA was done so more students of a specific race could be included. We are pushed to meet the needs of the achievement gap students, and told by some administrators, let the capable students learn on their own, focus on our achievement gap kids! No where in this article did they mention the race of the students who are saying that school is too easy for them, and I think this says it all. Let's go ahead and make the curriculum more rigorous, many students deserve this, but then in the AAPS, it would widen the achievement gap.

Angry Moderate

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.

You can't do that in Ann Arbor...tracking kids into different classes based on their proficiency would result in unequal racial distribution.

microtini

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.

This is not news to teachers. As long as our educational system is driven by standardized tests, instructors will always teach to the middle: the largest group of homogeneous learners. This means that low achievers and high achievers will be largely ignored. And with the move to tie teachers' pay to student test-performance, we can expect the problem to get worse.

aamom

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.

sh1 I have to disagree with you. Differentiated instruction is not built into the curriculum. If you happen to get the teacher who feels up to providing "challenge" math for those who are advanced, then you will be challenged. The actual math books do not provide significant challenge. Also, our experience has been that every teacher provides his/her own "challenge" activities. There is no consistency across teachers. We had very different experiences at the same grade level at the same school, but with different teachers. At the middle school level, you can test out of your current grade level for math. The bar for passing is set very high (as it should be) so the kid who is one point shy of passing is forced to sit all year through long explanations of things, most of which he/she already knows. What is sorely lacking is an accelerated class. This is for kids who don't know enough to pass out of the whole class, but could get through much more material in a year than the lower/average student. It is the pacing that causes many students to say the class is too easy.

sh1

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.

A little data would be nice here to substantiate claims of teachers and the curriuculum purposely not challenging students. In Ann Arbor, at least, differentiated instruction is built into the curriculum at the elementary level. At middle school, students can test out of math classes. And students can take AP classes at high school.

Angry Moderate

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.

Also, any student can tell you that teachers don't "teach to the middle." They teach to the lowest common denominator--dumbing down the material so that even the worst students will pass.

Angry Moderate

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.

Oh please. I went to AAPS for 12 years. Half the teachers played Disney movies for the class when they didn't have a lesson prepared. Teaching to a standardized test that requires actual knowledge of math and reading comprehension would be a big improvement.

brimble

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.

It is tough to extrapolate anything meaningful from this survey data. Middle schoolers are not likely to be unbiased respondents. If they are asked: "Is your math homework easy a) all of the time, b) some of the time, c) most of the time or d) all of the time?", few will admit to struggling with it, and will therefore claim that it is easy all or most of the time, irrespective of their actual acuity or mastery of the task. Eighth graders as a group are not proficient in social studies, math, or writing. Is it the fault of the teachers (who ostensibly don't challenge students) or students (who don't rise to the challenge they are given)? Tough to say, but the implication that the teachers are at fault is a straw argument at best.

jns131

Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.

I have to agree with that one. Math is more tougher in the state of Michigan then anywhere else. If it gets any tougher? Can we say GED for half?

Angry Moderate

Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.

Huh? Many kids complain that they have trouble with their math classes.