American Education

Here are some interesting facts about American education.

America has 4, 000 colleges and universities while the rest of the world combined has 7,768. That is fairly remarkable considering the age of our country compared to the rest of the world.

In the state of California alone, there are 130 colleges and universities. In the rest of the world, there are only 14 countries that have more colleges than California.

Now, do not get too excited because the information coming is not nearly as complimentary.

Thomas Friedman writes in his book, The World is Flat, the following:

"The Associated Press reported (December 4, 2004) that American eighth graders had improved their scores in science and math, sine 1995, when the test first was given, but their math improvement came mainly between 1995 and 1999, and not in recent years. "

"The worrying news, though, was that scores of American fourth graders were stagnant, neither improving nor declining in science or math since 1995. As a result, the United States slipped in the international rankings as other countries made gains."

Any gains occurring in the first three - five years of testing can almost always be attributed to students learning how to take the test in a more efficient way. Having said that, what are our issues here? Having led the world for so long in math and science, we are now falling dangerously behind.

Friedman writes,

"According to the National Science Board, the percentage of scientific papers written by Americans has fallen 10% since 1992. The percentage of American papers published in the top physics journal, Physical Review, has fallen from 61% to 29% since 1983. And now we are starting to see a surge of patents awarded to Asian countries."

And it does not appear to be getting any better.

"On December 16, 2005, The New York Times carried a story reporting that the average American college graduate's literacy in English had declined significantly over the past decade according to a widely respected nationwide test. This is college grads - not dropouts."

Friedman goes on to inform us that the National Assessment of Adult Literacy is the nation's most important test on how well Americans can read, and when the test was last administered in 1992, 40% of the nation's college graduates scored at the proficient level. This means, according to Friedman, that they were able to read lengthy complex English test and draw complicated inferences from them. When the test was given again in 2003 only 31% of the graduates demonstrated those high level skills.

There are many thoughts on what is transpiring here, but one thing is certain, something is taking place. I have my own ideas, but will save them for another time. I would be interested in your ideas. Happy thinking! Blessings!

Calvin and Hobbes

The day Bill Watterson decided to end Calvin and Hobbes was a sad day for me. I've never read a comic strip that captured the humor found in human nature more perfectly. Here are a few of my favorites lines. Enjoy!

Calvin: I've got an idea, Dad. Maybe I'd get better grades if you offered me $1 for every "D", $5 for every "C". $10 for every "B", and $50 for every "A"!

Dad: I'm not going to bribe you Calvin, you should apply yourself for your own good.

Calvin: Rats. I thought I could make an easy four bucks.


Calvin: I've decided I want to be a millionaire when I grow up.

Dad: Well you'll have to work pretty hard to get a million dollars.

Calvin: No, I won't. You will.

Dad: Me?

Calvin: I just want to inherit it.


Hobbes: How come we play war and not peace?

Calvin: Too few role models.


Calvin: What grade did you get?

Susie: I got an "A."

Calvin: Really? Boy, I'd hate to be you. I got a "C."

Susie: Why on earth would you rather get a "C" than an "A"?!

Calvin: I find my life is a lot easier the lower I keep everyone's expectations.

Christ and Culture

Andy Crouch, in his book, Culture Making, writes of Christ and culture. In writing about the cultural impact of the resurrection, he writes:

"It is fundamentally a statement of bald historical fact: the resurrection, if indeed it happened as Jesus' followers proclaimed, changed more of subsequent human history, for more people and more cultures, than any other event we can name. And if the resurrection did not happen, then something else of extraordinary historical power happened in an amazingly short span of time in Judea and Palestine in the 30s and 40s of the common era." The question is if the resurrection did not happen... what did happen?

Crouch makes two great points here; the first is that something great happened! If it was not the resurrection than it was something great. Whatever happened involved Jesus. It had to involved Him, or else it would not have had his name attached to it. Crouch's point is that in such a short period of time, Jesus radically changed general culture and all other cultures across the world!

I deal with rumors and gossip as both are present in a school setting. I can attest to the fact that rumor and gossip have two elements: one, there is some truth to them, although very little, and two, deceit is a rumor's largest component by far and usually leads to the rumor's own demise. My point: rumors and gossip do not cause widespread sweeping change in culture; they merely ruin reputations, friendships and families, and almost always come back full circle to ruin the one who started them in the first place. The resurrection was clearly not a rumor.

The only explanation plausible is this: the resurrection was true. It has stood the test of time. It has changed culture. It has changed the world. If something else took place then someone would have the answer to the following question: if the resurrection did not happen then what did happen?

What happened was that God became man in order to save man. He lived as man for 33 years and willingly took on death, death on a cross because He loved so much. He died and was buried, and three days later, He rose again and ascended to heaven where He waits to come again in His perfect timing to claim those who believe in Him.

It sounds strange and bizarre, but is it really any more bizarre than anything else we hear these days? If you want to know more then please read the gospel of John. It will be time well spent. Blessings!

Van Lunen in the West

As I write this post, the sun has already gone down in Scottsdale Arizona, which is where I currently sit. The picture above is of one of the red and pink rock hills found in this part of Scottsdale, as viewed from the courtyard of the retreat center where we are staying. This area is desert, but it still has a beauty all its own.

I am here, again, as a Van Lunen Fellow for a week of study with 15 other heads of Christian schools. It has been a wonderful week as we have covered topics like facilities, budgets, compensation and professional development. We have heard wonderful things from our instructors, but the most valuable part of this whole process may just be the friendships and the networks formed in our midst.

We have been given time to talk and learn from each other. The insight given and advice provided by others who have had to manage and deal with like-situations as been priceless. It has been a wonderful week, but tomorrow we all go our separate ways once again, and I am ready. Ready to see my loving wife and my sweet children, ready to take all these great ideas back to my wonderful faculty and staff, ready to see my wonderful students and yes, ready to sleep in my own bed.

The Van Lunen Center of Calvin College is a wonderful organization designed to equip Christian school administrators to weather all the storms that come their way. If you are an administrator in a Christian school, I encourage to go to their website (you can find it on my side bar), check it out and apply for this program. You will not regret it. Blessings!

Kids...

A recent study found that kids from families that worship regularly exhibit far few problems than those that do not. The article highlighted the findings of the study. For example:

"The study by psychologist Nicholas Zill, the founder of Child Trends, and statistician Philip Fletcher found that children in such a situation -- when compared to children not living with both parents and not attending religious services regularly -- are 5.5 times less likely to have repeated a grade and 2.5 less likely to have had their parents contacted by the school because of a conduct or achievement problem."

The article goes on to state,

"Additionally, intact families who have regular religious participation (defined as at least weekly or monthly) are less likely to report parental stress and more likely to report a "better parent-child relationship," the analysis, which focused on families with children ages 6-17, says. "

"The authors said that children in an intact religious family "are more likely to exhibit positive social behavior, including showing respect for teachers and neighbors, getting along with other children, understanding other people's feelings, and trying to resolve conflicts with classmates, family, or friends."

I wonder why this study was not on the front page of any prominent newspapers or worthy of any discussion on the evening news? Hmm. Read the entire article and be encouraged. Blessings!

Winter Wonderland

Around this time of the year, I start to miss my home in Massachusetts with all of its winter wonderland charm, just a little. Here are two of my favorite pictures from back home. The larger one is of Lake Pontoosuc in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In the distance, you can see the Berkshire Mountains, nestled in a valley of those mountains is North Adams, Massachusetts. The smaller picture is of Main Street in North Adams after a snow storm. It is a beautiful little city, at times.


Back to those mountains, over the top of the tallest one and half way down the other side of it is a little township called Monroe, Massachusetts. That is where I resided for 22 years. On cold winters days, I sometimes long to be back in Monroe. During the winter, as a child, I remember looking out my bedroom window to see the snow fall against the dark winter sky. The only sound during those snowy nights was often the town dump truck plowing the streets. It was something special to snuggle into a warm bed not knowing what amount of snow would be waiting when morning arrived. Would there be enough to cancel school or just enough to make the sledding extra good that afternoon? Back then, it was a sure to be surprise. If it was the latter, then the day would be longer then usual due to anticipation of fun after school, and the time after school until dark, would be even shorter than usual due to the winter wonderland of fun, but memories would be made just the same. And, it is these memories that I draw on during cold winter days where ever I call home. It is these memories that serve me well, no matter where I go. May your memories be filled with wonder. I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy near year of hope! Blessings to all!

Thinking about Thinking