American high schoolers can't even calculate the cost of lunch — and teachers explain why parents are at fault
In terms of math, only 22% of high schoolers had scores above proficiency.
The education system is constantly evolving, and while it is designed to dynamically help kids achieve better results, recent reports are revealing shockingly opposite results. A report shared by the National Assessment of Education Progress noted that high schoolers’ reading and writing scores are at an all-time low, per ABC News. While the reasons could be many, teachers and educators are pointing out that parents, too, have a role to play. New York Magazine’s writer, Andrew Rice, revealed in a December 2 discussion with Amanpour and Company why he thinks these scores are deteriorating.
The report revealed that nearly half of high school seniors had scores below basic levels. Only 35% of students are above proficient reading levels. This number has decreased compared to 2019, when the rate was 37% and in the late 90s, when the rate was 40%. In terms of math, the scores were even lower. Only 22% of high schoolers had scores above proficiency. Rice, who wrote a piece in the New York Magazine, added to the staggering results with his findings.
He noted that the results of the high schoolers' performance were at an all-time low. He also stated an unbelievable fact. “The test asked them to define the word ‘decipher,’ and 24% got it wrong,” Rice revealed. Furthermore, in another assessment, it was revealed that three-quarters of high school seniors could not correctly “add the cost of six lunch items and calculate a 20% tip.” Rice noted that this decline made itself visible pre-pandemic, but the impact still continued years later. While the prominent reason behind this was supposedly “screens” and “lower grading,” experts agree that there’s something more to it. A lot of teachers noted that students are no longer expected to “perform in the same way that they used to.”
These metrics are still not as much of a root cause influencing such low scores. The writer pointed out one factor that needed to be addressed — “Accountability.” He recalled how, earlier, there were incentives and disincentives in place that rewarded students for effort and determination. There was a kind of “benchmark” that students were encouraged to get to. Unfortunately, that changed. “Progressive parents rallied around traditional public schools and their teachers and rebelled against the rote mind-set that an overemphasis on test scores created, which sucked creativity and joy out of the classroom,” he mentioned in his article.
This is but one example, but for a long time, many parents have been interested in the abstracts of schooling rather than focusing on quality education. Many have let go of the most important aspect — the need for kids to learn. Rice spoke to Laura Overdeck, an educational philanthropist. She, too, noted that parents need to shift their focus to the declining performance of their kids. "There's been a lot of effort to get parents to not like tests and to be mistrustful of them,” she said. She added that the very fact that the learning rate is so low means that some changes are required and parents need to pay attention to them.
In conclusion, Rice noted that the “systems are not easy.” It is up to parents to be aware and alert and root for the best for their children. Many agreed with this perspective. @konatelassina5301 said, “No one even considers parenting as the problem. Teachers can't hold students accountable until parents do.” @jenniferabel2811 added, “Parents, children themselves, and teachers must assume equal responsibility for children's formation.”
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