Statistic of the Month: How Far Behind Are the Very Best U.S. Students?

Ligel Lambert, a U.S. art teacher at Shanghai’s Shi Xi High School, highlights the IB program’s emphasis on independent learning, critical thinking, and English fluency, contrasting it with classroom norms in China, Japan, Korea, and the U.S.

This interview with Mistilina Sato highlights how Shanghai’s collaborative teaching culture, with peer observation, mentorship, and shared lesson planning, supports teacher growth and career advancement.

Teachers in the U.S. spend more time teaching, and thus have less time for collaboration and planning, than their counterparts in high-performing education systems.