The United States of America, the greatest nation on Earth by many of its citizens’ accounts, is great if not the best at everything. In fact this attitude harbored by many in American society is frequently seen by those outside of its borders as arrogant and haughty. This accusation begs one to ponder whether there is any validity to these assumptions abroad. Is this a majestically proud nation? The answer is yes, of course it is. Is there an apology owed for this? I offer up a resounding NO. However, a rational person would view this external indictment from all sides using fairness and logic as guides to the TRUTH. And while yes, America is great at many things, it is derelict in one area seemingly overlooked as vital to her economic, political, and social survival.

America has fallen grossly behind many other nations when it comes to education. One must understand that the cornerstone of any civilized and advanced society is the education of its people. Unless the youth of this country are socialized to embrace education as earnestly as their next breath, there is little hope of continuing to be a first world nation. As an educator at the secondary and collegiate levels, I have experienced the difference in cultures where commitment to academic training is concerned. Over the years, my college students coming from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and many others, arrive here with a myopic agenda where their academic ambitions are concerned. They are fiercely focused on achieving a goal. Please understand that for many of them not to succeed and even excel educationally is unacceptable and therefore not an option. Many of them fear shaming their families and being viewed as squandering hard earned finances as they embark on their educational paths abroad.

On the contrary, far too many of my college students who were born and schooled right here in America hold a vastly different attitude. Many of them appear disimpassioned and sometimes even listless. This stark difference has made me crave an understanding of how this frivolous attitude came to pervade our educational system, including at the secondary level. The main culprit, clearly evident, is society. A large segment of American culture celebrates and pays homage to the most insignificant accomplishments which push things that are considered hard earned, such as education, into the background of inconsequence. Yes. Far too many American youth swallow whole what the television, film, and music industries dole out as what to strive for. Money, fame, and “bling” all too often dominate young people’s thoughts and aspirations, along with other unmentionables. With this being the case, where is there room for education and other things that are considered hard earned? Some youth seem to rail against the thought of working hard to achieve a goal of obtaining something of worth and value. Many of America’s youth feel entitled to everything desired without the notion of being obligated to labor for it. Some of them do not understand that striving for something they want builds character. And while others do understand this concept, they are simply disinterested in it.

The stark contrast of others coming from across the seas to enter our educational institutions with such a fierce urgency should be alarming to those who understand and know the promise of education. It is the seed planted for a future of success which ultimately possesses the potential for influence, power, and wealth. However, many, as of late, have stepped forward to warn this great society of an impending devastating decline. For instance, a recent CBS news report found that the United States ranks ninth among industrialized nations of adults between the ages of 25-34 in similar population with high school degrees. By the same measure, the US is tied with Belgium for seventh place of those who hold a college degree. Those numbers may not sound unnerving right off, but if you consider the fact that the report found by both measures, the US ranked first in the world as recently as 20 years ago according to Barry McGaw, director of education for Organization for Cooperation and Development based in Paris. This is definitely a significant drop in rank to say this dramatic shift has taken only two decades to manifest. At the rate students are performing in this country today, those that can internalize the implications probably tremble at the thought of what the numbers will look like in the next 20 years.

Moreover, what does this mean for America’s economic future? McGaw goes on to state the US, for now, continues to dominate the “knowledge economy” which, simply put, uses information to produce economic benefit. However, he advances that, "Education's contribution to that economy is weakening, and you ought to be worrying." This report was based on the fact that 15- year-olds in America perform below standards of applying math to real-life functions. Furthermore, the question has to be raised whether the amount of money being spent on each student at all levels is being equally and fairly distributed in the American educational system. This country spends $11,152 on each student at all levels. This is the second highest amount spent behind Switzerland at $11,334. Clearly money is being spent, but could it be done so in an even more effective way, and what about academic and social expectations? It is definitely past time to raise the bar on those.

A colleague and I had a recent conversation pertaining to students and the lack of veneration many of them exhibit towards their teachers at the secondary level. Many of them openly admitted that they afford their teachers little to no respect. Of course he and I were both taken aback. However, we both thought of countries (one in particular) that excel academically. Japanese students respect their teachers as if they would their parents. It is ingrained in the culture to excel academically because they are taught at an early age that despite any outside influences, education is the sure key to a successful and rewarding life. Thus, these students buy in to this concept at an early age and the parents, teachers, administrators, and the educational system all hold them accountable. Society holds them accountable because it realizes that their young students are the future of that country’s workforce, economy, and social structure.

Unfortunately, students in the US are held to a different standard. The educational system has gone away from what works and so has society. Students are not held accountable for lack of achieving as they once were in this country. Far too many parents are not holding themselves accountable for being responsible for their children’s education. Meaning, a teacher’s job is to teach, coach, and prepare a student academically for the next level. This is a far more daunting task when parents refuse to assume the role of “enforcer” ensuring that their children come ready and prepared to learn with no exceptions. At the secondary level, I witness far too many of my students arriving to class with nothing in their hands. Some come with nothing to write with, nothing to write on, and their faces are devoid of any shame or responsibility. Yet, I trudge on. Unfortunately, this attitude is frequently indicative of their performance. On the contrary, many of my students are ready to work when they arrive. Some parents are quite open to working together with teachers to make sure their children are ready to learn and acquire the skills they were sent to school for. They not only hold their children responsible, but they also hold themselves responsible which makes all the difference. This should be the case across the board.

Instead, interest in education continues to wane among American youth. Every year, 1.3 million students drop out of high school in this country. That is nearly 7,000 students a day. While students in other nations are running at break neck speed towards education, nearly a million and a half in this country are running from it on a yearly basis. What kind of future does this pose for America? Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell told ABC’s Good Morning America, “We will pay for it. It's not only a moral catastrophe, it's an economic problem....It's a security problem.” General Powell also went on to say that he believes this situation is morally and economically imperative that the US deals with this crisis. And that is just it. The country has to first admit that there is a real crisis concerning education and that the threat of being left behind other nations has already been manifested. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates perhaps has been the most bluntly outspoken critic on this subject. According to a Seattle Times report, Gates used jarring words such as “ashamed and appalled” to describe American high schools during a speech before the National Governors Association education summit in the nation’s capital back in February 2005. The newspaper also cited Gates as saying, “When I compare our high schools to what I see when I’m traveling abroad, I am terrified for our work force of tomorrow.” Gates was right on.  Unless drastic measures are taken to change the course of the nation’s schools, how can the US hold any hope or expectation of continuing to be the predominant leader in anything?

The US government and society must understand that sometimes taking a page from another country’s system that works is not only okay but smart. There is no shame in realizing you are not the best at something. The shame is warranted when nothing is done in earnest to strive to be the best. After this, American families must recognize and accept their charge by refusing children to view education as an option. Families must impress upon their children that their academic futures are non negotiable and that their only choice is to succeed and excel academically. Moreover, educators and administrators too must have zero tolerance for anything less than excellence not only where students are concerned but within their own professional ranks. Otherwise, America’s future is in for a seismic shift which will prove costly.

-The Hard Truth