With America's Education System, How do We Stay on Top?

Your observation about the U.S. education system is well taken. Education is very important to the economic success of any country. However, I think that there are a few reasons why the US has stayed on top. While we arguably have some trouble in the lower grades, we exceed in the area of higher education. When I lived in Japan, I discovered that kids kill themselves through high school, but college is a 4 year party. In Japan the focus is on passing the entrance exam to the Junior High, High School or College that will take you to the next step. The focus is on elimination, and separating the kids into different categories. Once you enter college the game is over, your future is set. There is no incentive to work hard in college.

America has been fortunate in that it has not succumbed to the "hammer down the nail that sticks up" temptation to the degree that many other nations have. In many countries, education is also about conformity. Students spend years being hammered down for expressions of individuality and creativity. That is not to say that we have totally escaped this temptation in the U.S. However, U.S. education does this to a lesser degree than many countries. Rewarding conformity in a world where innovation creates wealth is devastating to an advanced economic system.

Immigration is critical. We have been successful at attracting many of the world's best and brightest to the US. While much of the world decries the "brain drain" the US has been the tank to which many of the best and brightest naturally flow. Many of those creative geniuses, who refused to let their educational systems hammer the individuality out of them find a home in the U.S. We must be very careful to insure that we do not cut off immigration.

Likewise, diversity is critical. Creativity is often the ability to apply an old idea to a new situation. This requires diversity of thought. People who can see the world in a different light can offer new solutions to problems. That requires a free society, which values people of many different backgrounds.

Life time education is also essential. To be successful, education has to be a continual process. Institutions like UOP are becoming ore and more important to countries' economic success. Unfortunately, many countries still see education as something that kids do. Letting people push themselves farther at any point in life is very important.

I am sure there are more items that could be added to the list. But, it is important that we foster a free and open society, which encourages activities that produce economic progress.

		January 25, 2005 *With America's Education System, How Do We Stay On Top?*
	Your observation about the U.S. education system is well taken. Education is very important to the economic success of any country. However, I think that there are a few reasons why the US has stayed on top. While we arguably have some trouble in the lower grades, we exceed in the area of higher education. When I lived in Japan, I discovered that kids kill themselves through high school, but college is a 4 year party. In Japan the focus is on passing the entrance exam to the Junior High, High School or College that will take you to the next step. The focus is on elimination, and separating the kids into different categories. Once you enter college the game is over, your future is set. There is no incentive to work hard in college. America has been fortunate in that it has not succumbed to the "hammer down the nail that sticks up" temptation to the degree that many other nations have. In many countries, education is also about conformity. Students spend years being hammered down for expressions of individuality and creativity. That is not to say that we have totally escaped this temptation in the U.S. However, U.S. education does this to a lesser degree than many countries. Rewarding conformity in a world where innovation creates wealth is devastating to an advanced economic system. Immigration is critical. We have been successful at attracting many of the world's best and brightest to the US. While much of the world decries the "brain drain" the US has been the tank to which many of the best and brightest naturally flow. Many of those creative geniuses, who refused to let their educational systems hammer the individuality out of them find a home in the U.S. We must be very careful to insure that we do not cut off immigration. Likewise, diversity is critical. Creativity is often the ability to apply an old idea to a new situation. This requires diversity of thought. People who can see the world in a different light can offer new solutions to problems. That requires a free society, which values people of many different backgrounds. Life time education is also essential. To be successful, education has to be a continual process. Institutions like UOP are becoming ore and more important to countries' economic success. Unfortunately, many countries still see education as something that kids do. Letting people push themselves farther at any point in life is very important. I am sure there are more items that could be added to the list. But, it is important that we foster a free and open society, which encourages activities that produce economic progress.