Systematic Failures in U.S. Math and Science Infrastructure Threaten Global Leadership

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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From: Michael Hodges <michael.r.hodges () verizon net>
Reply-To: <michael.r.hodges () verizon net>
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 08:38:16 -0500
To: <dave () farber net>
Subject: Systematic Failures in U.S. Math and Science Infrastructure
Threaten Global Leadership

http://www.bhef.com/media/feb1605.cfm

"Few Americans, if any, can recall a time when the United States
was not the world leader in mathematics, science, technology,
and innovation. For decades, America has known no rival. The
expansion of research and development (R&D) in university
and corporate laboratories, coupled with support for
outstanding achievers in schools, colleges, and universities,
fueled manufacturing productivity, reinvented entire industries
and occupations, and created highly paid jobs.

Innovation - not military might or divine right - fueled the
country's unprecedented prosperity after World War II. The
nation's infrastructure for innovation put a man on the moon and
a vehicle on Mars. It produced the now ubiquitous personal
computer, microwave oven, and cellular phone. It ushered in an
era of seminal change in health sciences. It pushed America
beyond the Industrial Age and into the Information Age.

But now, the United States is losing its edge in innovation and
is watching the erosion of its capacity to create new scientific
and technological breakthroughs. Increased global competition,
lackluster performance in mathematics and science
education, and a lack of national focus on renewing its science
and technology infrastructure have created a new economic
and technological vulnerability as serious as any military or
terrorist threat."

pdf at: http://www.bhef.com/MathEduReport-press.pdf

Systematic Failures in U.S. Math and Science Infrastructure Threaten Global
Leadership

Contact: Jenifer Ehrlich
202-367-2350
jenifer.ehrlich () bhef com

Top Business and Higher Education Leaders Review Latest Education Data;
Issue Warning About Future Impact on the Bottom Line

WASHINGTON, DC - February 16, 2005 - Armed with one of the most
comprehensive and current review of data available, top business and higher
education leaders today said that the United States' lackluster performance
in science and math has placed the country in grave danger of losing its
competitive edge in the global marketplace.

The data - presented in a new report by the Business-Higher Education Forum
( BHEF ) - are part of a joint effort of the business and higher education
communities to objectively analyze the most recent and up-to-date
information available on America's performance in math and science
education.

"The most recent data about the performance of United States students in
math and science is cause for deep concern," said William H. Swanson,
Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company and Co-Chair of the BHEF 's Initiative
on Mathematics and Science Education. "Technology is the lifeblood of our
country because innovation builds prosperity and good, quality jobs for our
increasingly diverse workforce. If we don't invest in and improve student
achievement in math and science, there are serious implications for the
business community, the US economy and our quality of life."

A Commitment to America 's Future: Responding to the Crisis in Mathematics
and Science Education, warns that if current trends continue the United
States will lose is preeminence in science and technology and its leadership
position in innovation. Among key data cited in the report:

    * The 2004 Program for International Student Assessment showed that the
problem-solving skills of American grade 10 students are significantly lower
than their peers in 25 countries. Specifically, the performance of only 42
percent of U.S. students was above the lowest of the Program's six levels of
problem-solving achievement.

    * Even though the U.S. is in the midst of an undergraduate enrollment
boom, enrollment rates in countries with emerging economies and populations
are growing even faster at startling rates, similar to those of the United
States after World War II. In China , enrollment rates are expanding at ten
times the rate of the U.S. Two-thirds of all Chinese students earn math,
science or engineering degrees compared to about one-third of American
students.

    * The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that, over the decade ending in
2008, jobs requiring science, engineering, and technical training will
increase by 51 percent, a rate four times faster than overall job growth. In
addition, by 2008, some six million job openings for scientists, engineers
and technicians will exist.

The report notes that the one source of American inefficiency in math and
science is the lack of holistic, system-wide solutions. For example, the
supply and demand statistics on math and science teachers are not
encouraging. The report indicates that 260,000 to 290,000 new high school
math and science teachers will be needed in the 2008 school year. Yet, even
with years of advance warning, coordinated action is not being taken to
recruit and retain quality teachers.

"Research repeatedly has pointed to teachers as the key to improving student
achievement," said Dennis Smith, President Emeritus, University of Nebraska
and a Co-Chair of the BHEF Initiative. "To create a highly qualified
teaching force, institutions of higher education must raise the preparation
of mathematics and science teachers to a central role in the mission of
their institutions."

The BHEF report recommends cohesive long-term tactics to alleviate pressing
systematic problems such as the teacher shortage. Specifically, the report
challenges business, education, and policy leaders to commit to new and
collaborative roles that will advance the development of seamless state
systems of education - systems that extend from pre-kindergarten to higher
education and the workplace.

"One of the most important tools recommended by the BHEF report is the
establishment of state-level P-16 councils that include leaders from
business, education and government. These councils, guided by the
considerable existing body of work related to course content, curriculum and
standards, will support school districts in implementing new and innovative
strategies to improve the math and science achievement of all students,"
said Warren Baker, President of California Polytechnic State University and
the third co-chair of the BHEF Initiative.

The full report, A Commitment to America's Future, can be downloaded from
www.bhef.com

The Business-Higher Education Forum ( BHEF ) is a non-profit membership
organization of leaders from American businesses, colleges and universities,
museums, and foundations. The purpose of the group is to join together to
examine issues of national importance and, when appropriate, to speak with
one voice by issuing reports, white papers, and policy positions, and by
sponsoring roundtable discussions with elected public officials,
representatives from both the corporate and the academic communities, and
with the general public.

Copyright C 2005 Business-Higher Education Forum

---
Michael R. Hodges
 
michael.r.hodges () verizon net
 


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