Mathematics Teacher Preparation: USA versus USSR.

In the preparation of mathematics teachers both similarities and differences exist between the United States and the USSR. The vast majority of mathematics graduates in the USSR are females, primarily because most mathematics graduates will become teachers and most males do not want to teach because of low salaries and lack of respect for teachers. This problem is shared by the U.S. In the USSR, mathematics majors will take approximately 146 U.S. credit hours of mathematics during their 5-year program as compared to 45-50 credits at U.S. institutions. General education receives a great deal of emphasis in U.S. schools, whereas in Soviet schools very little, if any, emphasis is placed on general education since so much is done at earlier levels. It is apparent that Soviet educators in grades 1-10 are better prepared in mathematics than their American counterparts. This lack of preparation of U.S. teachers could be one of the factors which leads to the discouraging comparisons as between the achievement of American students and students of other nationalities. (JD)