Here’s an item for the truly lamentable file. A study of mathematic and science skills among students in 37 countries shows that the U.S. lags badly behind students in other countries.

The study was done by Boston College and it followed-up on a study done four years ago. It tested fourth and eighth graders. Around 50% of eighth graders in Taiwan, Singapore and Korea scored at the advanced level while 6% of American students achieved that level. To put a point on the depth of the problem, fourth graders in America ranked behind students in Kazakhistan and Latvia.

It’s readily apparent as to what skills are going to be required to succeed personally and as an economy in the 21st Century. Sadly, that reality doesn’t seem to have registered with the youth of this country and perhaps their parents as well. 

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