The U.S. education system has taken more than its share of lumps in recent years, so it's refreshing to learn that American students outperformed all others in the world except the Finnish in what must be considered the most basic academic skill of all - reading.
The National Center for Education Statistics examined a 1992 study comparing reading comprehension of fourth- and ninth-graders in 32 nations, with eastern and western Germany treated as separate countries.American fourth-graders outperformed their counterparts from all other nations studied except Finland and Sweden, and U.S. ninth-graders scored below Finnish students but about the same as students from 15 other countries including Sweden, France, Canada and Portugal.
This news should buoy the spirits of education officials who have been dealing with other studies that put American children behind the Japanese and some European countries in science and math. U.S. schools have been criticized as too lax, dumbed-down and permissive.
While science and math proficiencies are extremely important in today's competitive world, reading - and especially reading comprehension - is still the tool most needed in all fields. Writing is often directly tied to reading, and those two skills allow communication to occur.
Other results of the study emphasize the importance to a child's education of parental involvement. When parents were active in their children's schools, students scored significantly better than the international average.
Educators shouldn't spend too much time congratulating themselves on the study's results, however. There is much to be accomplished. Reading among American students still is below government goals, and reading performance is low among poor and black children and those whose parents have little education.
Schools must do more to involve parents - especially minority and poor parents. And parents must take more responsibility for their children's education. Reading at home is a key, and education programs should encourage parents and children to read together.
Parents should invest time on education. The return can be immense - for their children and for society.