We Don't Get What We Pay For

The Kansas City Star ran an article about a new OECD study on education this morning. There isn't a lot of new news in the article, but it bear repeating that the state of education in the US is a serious issue. Education needs more than just more money, it needs real reform.

From the article:

"McGaw said that the United States remains atop the "knowledge economy," one that uses information to produce economic benefits. But, he said, "education's contribution to that economy is weakening, and you ought to be worrying."

The report bases its conclusions about achievement mainly on international test scores released last December. They show that compared with their peers in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, 15-year-olds in the United States are below average in applying math skills to real-life tasks."

"Given what the United States spends on education, its relatively low student achievement through high school shows its school system is "clearly inefficient," McGaw said.

In all levels of education, the United States spends $11,152 per student. That's the second highest amount, behind the $11,334 spent by Switzerland."

Education, and an exceptionally well educated population are the key to maintaining the standard of living in the US. The strength, or weakness, of our education system will be one of the keys to maintaining the lifestyles we have come to expect.

Timothy Burger
timothyb(at)timothyburger.com