Teens' math, reading in unprecedented decline, says OECD - Reuters

[TexasTowelie]

A survey conducted by the Paris-based OECD has revealed that global learning standards have experienced a significant decline since 2000 with lower performance linked to higher rates of mobile phone usage for leisure and teacher shortages in schools.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. On the Road to Idiocracy.

[Aussie105]

2. It's the distraction kids have these days.

They live in the 'here and now' world of sensory overload.
No time to think, learn, and plan a future.

I grew up in a country town before TV reached it, and slide rules and log books were the high tech tools you used in school.
No cell phones, no computers. No calculators.
It helped.
Plenty of time to study, think and make plans for a future.

But I'm sure teachers will get the blame. They always do.

[IronLionZion]

3. Probably the teacher shortages more than mobile phone usage

I'm not a fan of mobile phones in schools, but I doubt we can blame that for keeping students from learning math and science. Good teachers can make a tremendous difference in students' eagerness to learn the material. And hiring good teachers requires funding, pay, benefits, etc.

I'm 40 and many of my high school classmates wanted to become teachers as a career aspiration, and did. Not sure that's the case these days with book bans and loony parents in the US. Not sure if they have similar problems in other developed countries. Developing countries prioritize math, science, reading, computer skills, etc. And teaching is still viewed as an aspirational profession that kids want to get into.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I noticed a change when the schools were re-opened after the Pandemic.

I sub-teach and the kids were off the rails in the middle school where I work.

They refused to do the work assigned with a few exceptions. They refused to put away their cell phones and watched videos and texted for the 40 minutes of class. And they knew I couldn't do anything to change their behavior. They knew the administration couldn't stop them. They just weren't interested in learning anymore.

[MichMan]

5. Yet, I bet they all passed and moved on to the next grade

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Correct

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Didn't Notice That

I believe you've seen what you claim, just saying it's not universal.
Of the 16 or 18 schools where I sub, I've noticed only one that could reasonably be termed "behind pre-pandemic".
When I do math, the same stuff is covered now as in '18, '19, & '20 before the schools closed.
I don't do any language arts, so I can't speak to reading, only math & science.

[progree]

7. Minnesota middle school bans cellphone use, yielding surprising results

Minnesota middle school bans cellphone use, yielding surprising results, CBS, 11/29/23

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. . . . "Starting last year, we went to complete no cellphone use at all for any reason from 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., which is our school day," said principal Patrick Smith. Smith says the phone ban has made kids more engaged in class and with each other. . . . "And let's be real, with these devices, our students — especially our teenagers — there's a lot of drama that comes from social media, and a lot of conflict that comes from it," he said.

Smith says behavioral and bullying incidents are down. The school doesn't have data at this point showing grades are up, but parents we talked to see a difference.

. . . Smith says parents can still call the office to reach their kids. Every room in school has a phone.

Students are encouraged to leave their phone in their lockers but are allowed to have their phone on them. If the phones are seen being used, they're confiscated until the end of the day.

A little more: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/maple-grove-middle-school-cellphone-ban/