American Students Lag In Science And Math, But Are #1 In Confidence

Which speaks to one of the basic problems in our education system, no? We give short shrift to actually educating out students, but we’re long on the “self esteem” of our students. Who cares what they learn, as long as they feel good about themselves, right?

The United States educational system is failing students in the areas of science and math, according to former Vice President Al Gore.

“When you look at math and science education, it’s clear that we’ve got a problem that we’ve got to address,” Gore said during a recent online conference sponsored by Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds program.

Based on a worldwide assessment of teens’ math and science, the U.S. is currently ranked 29th in science and 35th in math compared with the rest of the world.

“We’re not in a position we want to be in today; that’s the facts,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Nearly 6,000 people logged onto the Connect a Million Minds town hall from countries such as the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and more.

Ironically, according to the recent theatrical film “Waiting for Superman,” the U.S. ranks No. 1 in confidence. Yet research shows many students here tend not to worry about school, so those who do are called nerds.

Our problem is that, when our students and schools put up failing grades, we respond by giving teachers and administrators more money. As if that were the solution to the problem. We need to stop funding teachers and start funding students.

Give parents an education voucher and let them decide which school is best for their children. The government’s monopoly on education has crippled our education system. Break the monopoly. Make schools and teachers compete for students, then watch as our education numbers turn around.