We're Number 11

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html?src=me&ref=general

Newsweek's current listing of the 100 best countries in the world lists America as No. 11. This compilation is referenced by Thomas L. Friedman in his Times article attached.

Friedman goes on to quote Robert Samuelson in the Washington Post as saying that we've spent so much money on school reform in America and have so little to show for it. But, at least Samuelson says that our problem may be more than bad teachers, weak principals or selfish unions. Friedman quoting Samuelson, "The larger cause of failure is almost unmentionable: shrunken student motivation ... students, after all, have to do the work. If they aren't motivated, even capable teachers may fail ... Motivation is weak because more students don't like school, don't work hard and don't do well."

Are we apathetic? Is this Rome? Do we have, as Friedman puts it, "... a national epidemic of get-rich-quickism and something-for-nothingism.?"

Where are we going to find excellent students for our business schools who are then open-minded enough to listen to ethical thoughts on business and success?

Let me close by quoting Friedman again: "... In a flat world where everyone has access to everything, values matter more than ever. Right now Hindus and Confucians have more Protestant ethics than we do, and as long as that is the case we'll be N0. 11."

Was it Winston Churchill that said "America is the last best hope for democracy." We don't get it wrong all the time. If we look at the ten countries ranked ahead of us, I'd rather be 11th and live here. And, how do we explain (if we want to stay with education for a moment) people like Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone. HCZ has used a comprehensive strategy, including prenatal Baby College, social service programs and longer days at its charter schools to forge a new future for one of New York's bleakest neighborhoods.

Canada's secret is that he has worked hard to assemble what he knows works: better-trained teachers working with the best methods under the best principals supported by more involved parents.

This is not rocket science. The problem with our U.S. approach is that the best pay and/or incentives go to those who choose Finance (for want of a better word) where the highest pay exists for the best minds who actually create "nothing." There are certainly economists who can argue what that "nothing" is but what we mean is no net tangible product - certainly the worldwide financial crisis was proof of that.

And, as for being number 11, when the worldwide financial crisis hit, I'm willing to bet that the head of the European Central Bank was real happy to get $360 billion from Ben Bernanke instantly without any debate in Congress and before the formal bailout legislation. So, perhaps the U.S. is number 11 until we are needed.

In the meantime, we can fix education - it just takes a national will to do so.