US Schools Work Teachers Harder, not Smarter: New Research

Check out this staggering tidbit from new research by Linda Darling-Hammond, et. al.:

U.S. teachers average far more net teaching time in direct contact with students (1,080 hours per year) than any other OECD nation. By comparison, the OECD average is only 803 hours per year for primary schools and 664 hours per year for upper secondary schools. U.S. teachers spend about 80 percent of their total working time engaged in classroom instruction, as compared to about 60 percent for these other nations’ teachers, who thus have much more time to plan and learn together, and to develop high-quality curriculum and instruction.

In most countries, about 15 to 20 hours per week is spent on tasks related to teaching, such as preparing lessons, meeting with students and parents, and working with colleagues. By contrast, U.S. teachers generally have from 3 to 5 hours a week for lesson planning, which is done independently.

Are you listening, Sec. Duncan?

If so, why are you praising KIPP charters as the "proven, scale-ready" answer? KIPP gives its teachers more time for extra duties how, again? By taking more time from teachers on nights and weekends.

And what are the unions, parent organizations, and politicians going to do with this knowledge?

The research itself, in short and longer form, is available for free download here. Darling-Hammond focuses this time on international v. U.S. comparisons concerning professional development practices. The take-aways are as instructive as those in her earlier research on comparative curriculum, standards, and assessments of OECD and other nations.

Remember Obama's pledge, in his inauguration speech, to listen to other countries in his new foreign policy approach?

Maybe he needs to advise his Education Secretary to listen to other countries too. They're outperforming us, after all - so maybe they can teach us.

(See other posts on Darling-Hammond here.)

Image by Old Shoe Woman on Flickr.