The global leadership of America may be at stake in the next generation as yet another study has found that American students are falling further behind their international counterparts in the critical education areas of science and math.
This dire finding was presented to Congress last week by a bipartisan group of academics, policy makers, and industry leaders that was originally convebed in 2005 to examine how American students were faring academically in regards to the international competition. However, there was still good news: America is still at the forefront of innovation and still produces by far the largest amount of wealth in the world.
Still, both politicians and academics are concerned, especially considering the worldwide recession.
In the findings, the people conducting the study found that Americans' academic achievement and future global economic competitiveness were linked. Ight now, with the last generation currently running the show, Anmerica is still doing well but come a new, less competitive generation waiting to trickle into the woprkforce in the next decade, things may be looking bleak. Here are some troubling findings by the committee:
Only 4 of 10 the top companies getting American patents in 2009 were American.
77% of global companies surveyed said they were planning to expand operations in China and India
America's cut of high-tech exports fell from 21 to 14% while China's rose from 7 to 20%
Most of General Electric's research is done overseas
America's math and science test scores have been largely stagnant for about 40 years, which wouldn't be a huge problem until you consider that other countries are getting better
Now for a real astronomical kicker: according to the National Science Board, a third of Americans don't know how long it takes for the Earth to go one complete orbit around the Sun! Hopefully everyone reading this knows the answer, but if not, 365 ¼ days is the length of a year.
Fortunately, this dearth of science and math literacy is not taking the country down into a black hole. Besides pointing out how badly we're doing, the committee also has offers suggestions as to how America can be more competitive again:
Increase federal funding for scientific research
Actively encourage kids to pursue careers in science-math related fields
Improve America's public education system
Unfortunately, these changes are easier said than done and the committee's report is, as of now, just that, a report that doesn't mandate anyone do anything to fix the problem. However, as this is just the latest in a series of reports making the same findings, hopefully, someone will get the bsall rolling so that America doesn't become a second-rate power in the coming century.
For more info:
FOX News
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