Andrew Bernstein: The Decline of American Education

Andrew Bernstein is a professor of philosophy at Marist College and the author of “Why Johnny Still Can’t Read or Write or Understand Math And What We Can Do About It”. In his book, he discusses the history of American decline in literacy rates and mathematics, the deterioration of public education quality, and the most promising educational movements for American children.

Expect to learn about the biggest contributing factors to why American kids struggle with reading, Andrew's observations as a college professor, and his most optimistic views on the future of education. He also offers his top advice for parents on raising children who enjoy reading.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

2:38 - The Decline of Academic Standards

4:16 - Why Have Education Standards in America Fallen So Dramatically

7:52 - The Relationship Between Reading and Math Skills

9:47 - Literacy Skills in Early America

16:16 - Gaps in Knowledge Andrew Has Noticed

27:04 - How to Teach a Child to Read with Phonics

40:22 - The Genesis of the "Look-Say" Method

45:18 - Is the Education System Setting Children Up for Failure?

55:08 - How the System Holds Teachers Back

1:02:35 - How Parents Can Combat the Shortcomings of the School System