Loss US Academic Competitiveness hype?

[elfboy]

loss US Academic Competitiveness... hype?

In my opinion all this hype about American students underperforming Chinese, Russian, & Korean students in math is overblown. Even if it is true it's not that big of a deal and the methodology used to come to these conclusions is flawed. In America school is mandatory and college attendance is very high so you will have absolutely more talented students, but the mean will be lower because of all the under-performers who were 'dragged' to go to school or are not smart enough are factored into the statistic. In India and China only the smartest, richest, and most determined brightest get a higher education.

 

[Pengwuino]

In my opinion all this hype about American students underperforming Chinese, Russian, & Korean students in math is overblown. Even if it is true it's not that big of a deal and the methodology used to come to these conclusions is flawed.

Can you back these statements up?

 

[elfboy]

here is a statistic that is rarely purported by the media:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

The USA has a literacy rate of 99% compared to India with only 75%.

I'm sure the USA produces more PHDs than most countries, but i can't find specific statistics anywhere online.

 

[Pengwuino]

How does any of that back the statements I quoted from you?

 

[rootX]

In addition to what Pengwuino said,

"The USA has a literacy rate of 99% compared to India with only 75%. "
- How literacy rate is measured?
- Are you wanting to compare absolute or %ages?
- What is "very high" attendance in America? What is "very low", "low"?