Rising Above the Gathering Storm:

Revisited:
Rapidly Approaching Category 5

Reported by Paul Richardson

2010
 Gentlemen, we have run out of money. It is time to start thinking.
Sir Ernest Rutherford, Nobel Laureate—physics

Key messages from Rising Above the Gathering Storm—Revisited :

Approaching Category 5, National Academies Press available at
WWW.nap.edu
The original report sponsored by members of congress of both parties
painted a bleak picture of our situation competitively. There were two
glaring problems where recommendations were made. One was to
increase government support for basic scientific research. The second
and the biggest single cause of the problem was the poor performance of
American K-12 schools. The initial report came out in 2005. The
committee that prepared this new report unanimously agreed that our
nation’s outlook has worsened.
“Further, . . . our overall public school system, or more accurately
14,000 school systems—has shown little sign of improvement especially
in math and science. Finally, many other nations have been markedly
progressing, thereby affecting America’s relative ability to compete for
new factories, research laboratories, administrative centers—and jobs.”
Thus, we are falling behind the competition because they are improving
rapidly and we are plodding in a comfortable circle getting nowhere.
Thus, if Americans wish to continue our lifestyle we have to be
competitive.
A sampling of factoids listed in the report:

 The World Economic Forum ranks the United States 48th in quality
of math and science education.
 In 2009, 51% of United States patents were awarded to non-U.S.
companies.
 Of Wal-Mart’s 6000 suppliers, 5000 are in China.
 United States consumers spend considerably more on potato chips
than the US Government spends on Energy R&D.
 In 2000 the number of foreign students studying physical science
and engineering in United States graduate schools surpassed the
number of United States students.
 GE has now located the majority of its R&D personnel outside the
United States.
 In the 2009 rankings of the Information technology and Innovation
Foundation the U.S. was in sixth place in global innovation-based
competitiveness, but ranked fortieth in rate of change over the past
decade.
 Sixty-nine percent of United States public school students in 5th
through 8th grade are taught mathematics by a teacher without a
degree or certificate in mathematics.
 Ninety-three percent of United States public school students in 5th
through 8th grade are taught physical science by a teacher without a
degree or certificate in physical science.
 The United States ranks 27th among developed nations in the
proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in
science or engineering.
 The United States ranks 20th in high school completion rate among
industrialized nations and 16th in college completion rate.
 According to the ACT College Readiness report, 78% of high
school graduates did not meet the readiness benchmark levels for
one or more entry-level college courses in mathematics, science,
reading, and English.
The Gathering Storm (2005) concluded that the best measure of
competitiveness is Quality Jobs. Jobs to a large degree define the
quality of life of individual citizens. The evidence is that good jobs are
created as a direct or indirect of advances in science and technology. A
variety of studies over the last decades indicate that over 50% of quality
jobs are a direct result of technological innovation. Advancement in
communication speeds and travel and shipping speeds has meant that we
now have to compete with those who are half a world away. Delhi,
Beijing, and Denver are next door neighbors now.
“[T]he committee . . . expressed its commitment to help America to be
among those nations whom it hopes will enjoy a truly global prosperity.
In [that] regard, the committee concluded that the United States appears
to be on a course that will lead to a declining, not increasing standard
of living for our children and grandchildren.”
Recommendations, I am only listing the first one because without it
all the rest will be futile.

 Move the United States K-12 education system in mathematics and

science to a leading position by global standards.