America, We Have a Problem

America's public education system has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. The Wisconsin Teacher's Union has made headlines over their stand-off with the states governor. Here in Texas, our public schools are facing a crisis due to the state budget shortfall. All school district are slashing millions from their budgets as less money will be available from the state. This comes at a time when test scores indicate that less that fifty percent of our countries 8th graders can read proficiently.

In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell dedicates a whole chapter to the crisis in American schools. He focuses on the difference between Asian schools and our U.S. educational system. It's hard to deny that students from far eastern countries have passed U.S. students in terms of achievement. Gladwell points out one basis difference. Asian students do not get an extended break, summer vacation, like most American students do. Gladwell uses statistics to point out how cognitive skills are lost over the long summer break.

A second factor is that in the Asian culture the brightest college students are encouraged to go into careers in education. Teachers are not only fairly compensated but viewed with much esteem. Contrast that to America where our brightest and best often go into high tech or business careers.

Turning around our country's educational system is not going to happen overnight. I am afraid we need to get past our current financial crisis before we can even begin to address long-range changes.

I do have one suggestion for parents. Get involved. In Texas thousands of people pack football stadium on Friday nights, but few people attend school board meetings. Most school PTA programs have died from lack of interest. The average school board election attracts less than 25% of the eligible voters. The key to addressing any crisis is to attack it head-on. It begins with you and the ownership you take in your child's education.