Without math, science skills, we lose

Math and science. Boring. Too hard. No fun. Nothing in it for me. That's the mantra of more and more young Americans opting out of advanced studies and careers related to these subjects.

Think again, young people. Our nation's future prosperity and your quality of life likely will be diminished if our students continue to be outgunned in science and math.

Evidence abounds that we are falling behind much of the world in these critical competencies.

Average U.S. 15-year-olds' science skills rank 21st among 30 developed nations. In math, the United States is 25th.

Close to home, Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich told us recently just 35 percent of freshmen are ready to take a college-level math course. Iowa ACT scores indicate even fewer competent - and it's worse in most other states. Many Iowa colleges report more high school graduates needing remedial work.

If you're still inclined to dismiss these numbers as unimportant, consider the message of Clay Jones, CEO of Rockwell Collins. Or Marion Blakey, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration and now president of Aerospace Industries Association.

Jones and Blakey talked with The Gazette Editorial Board on Friday after attending a local event that promoted Rockwell's Engineering Experiences program, which provides students hands-on experience and develops personal relationships with company professionals.

The program is one example of Rockwell's involvement in what Jones says more U.S. companies must do with schools and parents: public-private partnerships that stimulate student interest in engineering and technology careers.

If the U.S. talent pool keeps shrinking, Jones fears the United States will risk a Roman Empire-like fate and lose the quality of life that we have long enjoyed because of our technological edge. “China, India and Eastern European counties have a lot of talent and have made a big commitment to science and math. They're hungrier,” he said.

Naturally, Rockwell and other U.S. companies heavily dependent on technology talent have a self-interest stake in this issue. But so do Americans in general. The aerospace industry's success is an economic anchor for our country: 2 million jobs and exports of $95 billion with a trade surplus of $57 billion - second only to agriculture and one of few U.S. industries on the plus side of exports these days.

Blakey and Jones aren't counting on the federal government to fix the education shortfall. But they do urge higher state standards in math and science courses and allowing schools to offer higher salaries to attract better-qualified teachers in those subject areas.

Oh, and all of us should remind young folks that math and science skills lead to interesting jobs that pay well, too.