Life is soft... and so are we

There was a time, not so long ago, when the United States was at the top of the charts when it came to student performance on math and science.

There was a time...

But no more.

And it hasn't been that way for years.

We are headed for a crisis, folks, and we need to figure things out. Now.

The U.S. is ranked somewhere in the 20th spot or thereabouts in international science and math scores.

20th place.

If this was the Olympic Games, the good ol' U.S. of A. wouldn't get the gold, or the silver or bronze medals; maybe tin, pot metal, or appropriately, lead.

Who's on top?

Big surprise: China and India.

Times were, students from China and India would come to the U.S. to study at a university, and in many cases, stay here and become productive citizens.

But they are staying home now and making their own huge countries economic behemoths, at our expense, mind you.

A little competition is a good thing. I happen to think we can outdo any country when it comes to just about any academic subject. But we won't do it if we aren't motivated.

And we aren't motivated.

But the Asians are; especially in places like India and China, where, let's be realistsic, life is more difficult for the average Joe, or Hu, or Jawarhalal.

If you have brains but are stuck in a rural Chinese hut or a filthy suburb of Mumbai, math or science may be your ticket out. You can write code, develop software, work for a chemical lab, get into medicine. The options in India and China are exploding and the people are snapping up those options.

And why not? They're motivated. Who wants to do menial labor when you can make more money and get out of poverty? And the schools in India and China value those skills so much, they are pushing their kids to excel. In fact, society as a whole on most pan-Asian countries demands academic excellence. To not live to one's potential is to bring shame to yourself, your family, and your country.

Does that sound like America?

No. Americans obsess over Britney Spears' panties, Simon Cowell's scowl and how well George Clooney's latest flick did at the box office. We have forgotten the essentials and value the ephemeral and meaningless.

OK, so we can't fix all of society here, but what about the schools?

The biggest problem is a shortage of math and science teachers. If nobody wants to learn this stuff, even fewer want to teach it.

The best solution is to fast-track professionals who already know these skills and are willing to spend time either as adjunct or second-career teachers to fill these positions that are going begging.

Ask a retired Air Force Major if he or she would consider teaching 7th grade math. You'd be surprised how many would at least consider it. And people like that and from the corporate world who understand the real world needs for people with math and science skills would get the best out of those kids. Perhaps all they would need to be good teachers is some classroom management skills. And you DON'T need years of college to do that.

But, of course, the unions throw a conniption at the very thought. And the parents don't understand why Johnny can't add. And America slips further into mediocrity -- for purely avoidable reasons.

It's enough to make me want to learn Chinese.