3. In 1983, A Nation at Risk urgently recommended reforms in education warning "the United States is under challenge from many quarters". Today we're at greater risk than ever. The Government Education Monopoly continues to imperil our economy by failing miserably at preparing the workforce. Business increasingly looks for talent overseas. --U.S. Commissioner of Education Statistics
4. The world's greatest concentration of PhD's is in Seoul, Korea and half of Americans can't even find Seoul on a map. --U.S. Commissioner of Education Statistics
5. As many other countries invest heavily in science and engineering research, graduate a record number of scientists and engineers, and increase incentives to attract outstanding international students and scholars, it is a dangerous time for the U.S. to neglect our science and engineering enterprise. --National Science Board Finish India United States China
6. The U.S. is a leading producer in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services, but several Asian countries, led by China, have rapidly increased their global market share. --National Science Board
7. “Though it might be tempting to forego the long-term investments in the face of short-term challenges, neglecting scientific research and education now will have serious consequences for the future of our country. We must bear in mind that investments in our scientific and technological workforce, infrastructure, and basic research are not luxuries – they are critical for long-term prosperity and security. As other countries now actively seek to emulate our success by building their own innovation infrastructures, we must be ever vigilant to enhance our own innovative capacity.” --National Science Board
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10. Math test scores Grade 12 Netherlands 560 Sweden 552 Denmark 547 Switzerland 540 Iceland 534 Norway 528 France 523 New Zealand 522 Australia 522 Canada 519 Austria 518 Slovenia 512 Germany 495 Hungary 483 Italy 476 Russia 471 Lithuania 469 Czech Republic 466 United States 461 Cyprus 456 South Africa 446 --Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
11. Science test scores Grade 12 Sweden 559 Netherlands 558 Iceland 549 Norway 544 Canada 532 New Zealand 529 Australia 527 Switzerland 523 Austria 520 Slovenia 517 Denmark 509 Germany 497 France 487 Czech Republic 487 Russia 481 United States 480 Italy 475 Hungary 471 Lithuania 461 Cyprus 448 South Africa 349 --Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
12. United States awarded the lowest proportion — 17 percent — of degrees in science, mathematics, and engineering in comparison to other G-8 countries. --US Department of Education G-8 Report
13. What did those American students major in instead? According to the report, they earned degrees in education and in a broad category embracing social sciences, business, and law. --US Department of Education G-8 Report
14. The high school exit exams that most states require students to pass before they graduate are far too easy. The exams generally test eighth- or ninth-grade level work. --American Diploma Project
15. Value of the High School Diploma?? The high school diploma is losing its value quickly, as a growing number of graduates leave school without the math and reading skills that colleges and employers demand. From American Diploma Project
16. Russia has more adults with a higher education. Russia has the higher proportion — 55 percent — of adults, age 25 to 64, who have completed a higher education. Canada, at 45 percent, was second; the United States, at 39 percent, was third, closely followed by Japan, at 38 percent. Italy, at 11 percent, was last. --US Department of Education G-8 Report
17. Over an adult's working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million; and people with a master's degree, $2.5 million.
18. High school dropouts can expect to earn $1 million dollars or less over their lifetime. --U.S. Census Bureau
21. Curricula The biggest deficits are found at the middle school level. In middle school, most countries shift curricula from basic arithmetic and elementary science in the direction of chemistry, physics, algebra and geometry. Even poor countries generally teach a half-year of algebra and a half-year of geometry to every eighth-grader. Our schools’ curriculum does not compare to our competitors schools. --From 4 Choice
22. Textbooks U.S. textbooks treat topics with a "mile-wide, inch-deep" approach. A typical U.S. eighth-grade math textbook deals with about 35 topics. By comparison, a Japanese or German math textbook for that age would have only five or six topics. --From 4 Choice
23. Teachers Among teachers of high school biology and life sciences classes, approximately 31 percent of them do not have at least a minor in biology. Among high school physical science teachers, over half, 55 percent, do not have at least a minor in any of the physical sciences. Again we might question the focus of the teachers on social re-engineering instead of subject areas. --From 4 Choice
24. Among other countries, China and India are out-pacing America in education. www.2mminutes.com
