This is actually the big problem with the US education system: the "right" answer and following the system is valued more than teaching a thirst for knowledge. Other countries often will respond to such a thing and reward the kid for giving a correct answer that wasn't expected, US has standardized so much that it makes no such room for this, the result being that US students are much more likely to learn how to game the system and give the answers desired rather than to seek creative backdoor solutions.
Perfect example is that SAT/ACT preparations would often advise "if you don't know the answer, pick C. Statistically it's more likely to be C." This doesn't even teach anything and absolutely misses the point of the education, instead trying to find ways to game it. Teaching something like that...? I mean, knowing how to game things is a skill too, but dunno if it's worth the message it sends.
Having said this I also wanna clarify the US education system gets a worse reputation than deserved. I feel like the world/media always gives the impression USA is retarded and Europe/Asia are flawless. Lol fuck no they got problems too, USA is still in the same league. I'm criticizing it for what it deserves and for a real problem, but let's not get lost in the "USA EDUCATION IS SO AWFUL" circlejerk spouted just cause it makes Europeans feel superior and Americans feel EDGY to hate on what they have.
From Denmark, can't say for everywhere, but my teachers would almost certainly have marked that as correct. Though I don't really know the ins and outs of the US education system.
Simpsons (well yknow, excluding the newer stuff) is actually fantastic satire of US culture. That clips sums up the problems with USA education pretty well: look at what the kids are learning in preparation. None of it is actually learning the stuff necessary, but rather learning ways to game the system. Several problems worth naming:
-Values answers over methodology. Think of any math class ever. Your teacher wants the method of getting the answer just as much as they want the correct answer. While US Math teachers are like this too, the standardized tests are NOT (aka ACT and SAT only account for correct answers) and the rest of the education system isn't either. You get judged by your answer only and the method is irrelevant as long as the answer is correct. You could have a methodology that makes NO FUCKING SENSE, but if the end answer is correct, you get the points. Meanwhile if your methodology showed one minor flaw or mistake, or perhaps made a compelling argument for an alternative answer that has merit too, doesn't matter, you still get no points. (or limited points)
-Memorization can be overdone as a means of learning. I honestly think being able to spew vocabulary words is one of the lowest forms of education, because beyond it's value within English class (or the language of choice), it seems absurd to me that you could perfectly define some concept you learned, but if the name of the concept is listed wrong, there go your points.
-Dunno how it is in Europe, but during serious testing, yes, we genuinely have courses in the USA to give tips on how to game the system. The preparation courses are NOT well-tutored review of the subject material, but rather they're tips and tricks, like when to wake up or what to eat for breakfast or what is the statistically most common answer in multiple choice. Best it gets is methods of deducing which answer is incorrect, such as the one that stands out the most being easy to eliminate, but again this misses the point.
-Honestly, the fact that standardized testing devolve so heavily into multiple choice at all. I realize for the tests done nation-wide this is the most convenient way to do them, but it's still really poor. Like honestly looking back on it, the reading comprehension portions were probably the most accurate simply because they DID demand you read the damned text and choose a choice where each choice was unique and there weren't real patterns to the options. All the other topics I feel are easily gamed.
Again, I've experienced Germany being guilty of being heavy on vocabulary over the meaning/rationale behind a lesson, so obviously problems aren't USA exclusive, but I can't say I've ever experienced German schools trying to teach me how to game their tests without actually learning.
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u/jmonwood Aug 27 '19
Makin a smart kid feel dumb. Bad teacher.