Americans have fallen behind in science in math and can't compete globally, right? Well, not according to Vivek Wadhwa's October 26 BusinessWeek article, which the media have conveniently ignored.
For years, the media warned about US students' deficient science and math skills, but a report from the Urban Institute disputed those claims (all bold mine):
...math, science, and reading test scores at the primary and secondary level have increased over the past two decades, and U.S. students are now close to the top of international rankings. Perhaps just as surprising, the report finds that our education system actually produces more science and engineering graduates than the market demands.
Written by the Urban Institutes's Hal Salzman and Georgetown University professor Lindsay Lowell, the report contradicted the academics and politicians who warn America lags behind:
Their report shows U.S. student performance has steadily improved over time in math, science, and reading. It also found enrollment in math and science courses is actually up...Scores in national tests such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the SAT, and the ACT have also shown increases in math scores over the past two decades.
Assuming the increase in credits is due to more students taking classes rather than schools simply raising the credits' value, this report is a stunning reversal of media and academia gospel. It shattered the typical media claims about the state of American education:
...over the past decade the U.S. has ranked a consistent second place in science. It also was far ahead of other nations in reading and literacy and other academic areas. In fact, the report found that the U.S. is one of only a few nations that has consistently shown improvement over time.
Why the disparity between this report and the standard dire warnings that America is “falling behind” countries like China and India? The authors cited misinterpreted data and “serious methodological flaws” in other studies (Wadhwa detailed more here).
As for the lack of engineering and science graduates:
...the new report showed that from 1985 to 2000 about 435,000 U.S. citizens and permanent residents a year graduated with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in science and engineering. Over the same period, there were about 150,000 jobs added annually to the science and engineering workforce.
More grads than jobs? That doesn't get reported.
Wadhwa then referenced his previous myth-busting articles that addressed the “engineering gap” and outsourcing stating that CEOs are not offshoring jobs because of a lack of talent.
The study and Wadhwa's previous articles revealed that not only is America not lagging behind China and India but "(the US is) far ahead of the other nations in reading, literacy and other academic areas."
After dispelling these education myths, Wadhwa warned that a hasty fix to a problem that doesn't exist can result in a genuine crisis.
Lynn contributes to NewsBusters. Contact her at tvisgoodforyou2-at-yahoo-dot-com
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Good news, but what about
October 29, 2007 - 12:09 ET by pbanks7Good news, but what about reports in that in recent year, the SAT and ACT have dumbed down the tests to produce higher scores?
Still, it's nice to have some cool, hard facts for a change. That's of course why the media ignored it. Must ..... have ...... more ..... funding ..... for ...... education ....... spending.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
Test Scores
October 29, 2007 - 13:08 ET by allanfThe United States gives a free public education for all. The notion that all students will do equally well is fallacious.
Other nations are not as generous with universal free educations. Their sample space for tests is more restrictive.
The best of American mathematics is quite good indeed. Actually the class of the world.
Lest we forget . .
October 29, 2007 - 15:07 ET by jdhawkLest we forget . . .
Europe, as an example, winnows their best and brightest in what we refer to as middle or junior high school. As a European student entering high school, one has already proven and is prepped for follow-on university studies. The rest of the high school age children are prepped for work in the trades.
Here in the United States we have to send everyone to college and thus, we have to have everyone take the SAT test whether they will actually go onto college or not.
The sad truth is that one has to go to our technical community colleges to learn a trade or hope that someone will take them under their wing and tutor them in their knowledge of their trade. The problem is that half of the high school students never even graduate from high school. So, their eligibility for higher education is limited. What we need is the bifurcation of the system at an earlier age. So, we spark interest in our children that have no interest or appitude for college.
Hey, guess what? Not everyone is destined for college. You can make good money and have a satisfying life as a tradesman. Heck, I ought to know. I just got the bill for some plumbing work I had done for a condo I own!
Well in Ohio we have a lot
October 29, 2007 - 16:49 ET by AJSHOPEWell in Ohio we have a lot of tech (trade) schools that work with local high schools. In fact my high school worked with a place called Ohio Hi-Point. Kids that knew they weren't going to go to college went to Hi-Point for an entire day or for half a day. Hi-Point had classes for automotive fields, computer fields (for networking, basic computer repair, etc), cosmotology, and just about everything else that doesn't need a college education, but requires some sort of certification.