Why are we 17th and Shanghai First?

Let me confess as I begin to write this: Before I went to China in 1997, I said communism in China was the only thing that saved pax Americana. Then I went to Shenyang and saw street vendors plying their trade a 1 a.m. in temperatures that would frostbitte an Eskimo. Capitalism was alive and well in Mao's heartland. Capitalism that knew how to work hard and be disciplined--two things many of us have lost. We are seeing the fruits (for the Chinese) of hard work and sacrifice.

Now, 13 years later the Tiger Mother strikes fear in the hearts of (American) mothers. Yes, I am reading the reaction to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother before I have read the book. Chau probably exaggerates some for the sake of poetic license, but I would guess not all that much. The question is: Is she on the right track. Or are the folks in California (who would have guessed it) who don't keep score at the soccer matches so the little darlings won't have their self concepts hurt?

I have always argued that U.S. schools are weak until college. Why, just look at the number of patents to U.S. interests and the number of Ph.D.'s awarded here. Students from all over the world want to study here. Besides, look how many Nobel prizes go to Americans, more than anyone. We must be on top right?

Well, China is slated to surpass us this year in the number of patents awarded (UNESCO, quoted in Time, see the UNESCO link cited here). Given our paranoia about visas, more and more students are electing Britain, Canada and Australia for higher education. And Nobel prizes? Ever noted how many of those "American" awardees are foreign born?

UNESCO recently released its Program for International Student Assessment. Guess what Ameriphiles? The U.S. now ranks 17th overall. That's right, 17th in reading, 23rd in science, 31st in math. How many books have you read this year? Can you cogently explain the human genome or black holes? Have you ever joked that you are "math illiterate"? (Would you joke that you can't read?)

We owe the Chinese $900,000,000,000. That's right--almost a trillion. Total debt is nearly $14 trillion. We don't graduate many engineers (see The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman). We are hocked to our eyeballs, our economy is number one (but for how long--re-read de Tocqueville--greatness is built on population and natural resources) and we steadfastly refuse to demand the very best of our children. We will protect their self concepts right into slavery and servitude. Worst of all is the political system we aid, abet and support. It is a political system that perpetuates itself rather than reduce expenditure and debt. Keep spending and buying votes legislatures.

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money. 
Alexis de Tocqueville