Want to solve a particularly vexing problem? Try using your hands when formulating solutions.

3rd and 4th grade children told to move their hands when explaining how they’d solve a problem were four times as likely as kids given no instructions to manually express correct new ways to solve problems. Even though they didn’t, in the end, give the right answer, their gestures revealed an implicit knowledge of mathematical ideas. For example, to indicate the need for the sides to be equal, children might sweep the palm first under a problem’s left side and then under its right side. Although those children weren’t ready to turn that implicit knowledge into action (at that point they solved problems incorrectly), a second study showed that gesturing set them up to benefit from subsequent instruction.

In that study, the researchers assessed how gesture vs. no-gesture students performed after subsequent instruction in how to solve the math problems. At post-test, children who’d been told to gesture about math problems and then had a lesson solved 1.5 times more problems correctly as did the children who’d been told not to gesture – a significant advantage.

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Americans – ready to work for better educated FOREIGNERS – as their janitors, factory workers, and house cleaners? Good thing we at least know we’re free (from choice)! The solution to the dumbing of America is so easy it hurts – just attach education money to the student – instead of the current system of funding school districts regardless of performance – and let good old-fashioned American competition do the rest. I’m confident it will work. We just have to be brave enough to say no to powerful teachers unions and bought and paid-for politicians. If you’re an American, I hope this video scares the hell out of you – enough to move you to action.

We don’t need more police in our schools – we need a new school system. When schools compete, you win!