The education disparity

Re “Future psych majors,” editorial, Dec. 10

This editorial brought up the depressing fact that American students rank 21st out of 30 industrialized nations in science and 25th in math. It would be helpful to know why this is the case.

For instance, do the industrialized countries that rank ahead of the U.S. teach students differently? Are their class sizes smaller? Is the school year longer in these other nations? Do they spend more or less per pupil than the U.S.? Are teacher unions as powerful in other countries as they are here?

Have there been any studies to determine why American students are so far behind students in Finland, Canada or New Zealand?

Bonnie Owen

Marina del Rey