Posted on 11/15/2005 10:29:01 AM PST by Pikamax
Governor warns U.S. will become `France' without education focus By Glen Johnson, AP Political Writer | November 15, 2005
BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney urged a nationwide focus on improving education, or else "we'll end up being the France of the 21st century."
The Republican chief executive told a gathering of school leaders on Tuesday that while Massachusetts placed first nationally in a series of recent math and science tests, the United States itself ranks 25th out of 41 industrialized nations in math performance.
At the same time, the country is awarding roughly 4,500 doctorates in math and science each year, compared with about 24,000 per year in Asia.
"We cannot continue to have an excellence gap with the rest of the world and intend to remain the economic superpower and military superpower of the planet. That's just not going to happen," Romney said. "We're in a position where unless we take action, we'll end up being the France of the 21st century: A lot of talk, but not a lot of strength behind it in terms of economic capability."
In targeting France, the French-speaking governor flogged a favorite target of conservatives. Their ire was heightened by a French refusal to support military action in Iraq, which led to such public responses as a ban on selling French fries in the U.S. Capitol in favor of "freedom fries."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
If this is true either the Governor is wrong or we've gone over the edge already and can expect a repeat of our France-Like chaos soon a la the 60's in the US.
Mitt is right. The Democrats have sabotaged the education system in order to create the dependents on the system they needed to maintain power.
States need to make Education a priority and have to stop relying on the Federal government to assist them in meeting their goals. Local social programs and priorities need to be cut. Local taxes need to be reduced. Cities and counties need to be given more direct control over education quality, and more responsibility for finding their own funding.
Hawaii's failed education system is one of those State DOE's. Parents need to fly to Honolulu in order to go to Education board meetings. Parents have no recourse except the courts since the DOE sides with the unions 100% of the time.
Will become. How about, already there.
He brings up good points about math and science teaching, that why are these high tech jobs are going overseas......
Good Luck. The NEA has to be disbanded before we can expect any improvements in public education.
Another plea for more CASH to the Dept of Education. More babbysitting preschools for 3 year olds and smaller (more) class rooms = more teachers. Special ed for every whim.
This type of Leave NO Child thinking will be the financial ruin of our system.
"More NEA funding or we will burn your cars!"
It's just a small part of the reason - the others are age discrimination and cost.
When a Russian PhD works for $5 per hour and an Indian works for $ 10, wouldn't you send those jobs overseas ? Why pay the American $ 100,000 a year when you can pay an Indian $ 20,000 a year ?
"BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney urged a nationwide focus on improving education, or else "we'll end up being the France of the 21st century."
Bzzzttt!
Wrong.
Edumacation(sic) has nothing to do with becoming "France".
Having ballots in multiple languages, and enclaves of immigrants turning neighborhoods into defacto other nations, and a lack of "americanization" is the cause. Imo-- of course.
What good does knowing math have to do with not being, or "feeling" American.
Just as those who are given freebies have no respect for property, those that leech off of a nation and don't become a part of that nation have no respect/duty towards that nation.
A dumb as bricks "immigrant" that has devotion to America and strives to become, to me, is much more preferable to one who is taking advanced calculus and firebombs cars on the weekend in the name of _______(Fill in the blank)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.