Is American Education Meeting Our Future Needs?
8 April 2011
Global American Series
What happens to American business-- and our students-- in a high tech globally-competitive world if legislatures cut education funding at a time when the U.S. has sunk to 9th in the world in the percentage of students who are college graduates?
Today America has 3 million jobs that can’t be filled by Americans because they don’t have the skills required. How will funding cuts improve this situation?
We specifically look at the Texas situation this week on Global American radio – and get some surprising insights on the impact on business from a former GOP lawmaker who is the current President of the Texas Association of Business.
We also talk to two teachers, one with the State statistics and another who is a former teacher in Houston who describes what the classrooms will look like as a result of these radical changes in funding as the State of Texas continues to grow by 170,000 more students each year, joining the 5 million presently in school.
Our first guest is Bill Hammond, President of the Texas Association of Business, who in a recent article in the Austin American Statesman said: “If we don’t have an educated workforce, the jobs will leave.” He also said that, even before these cuts are made: “We are not meeting the needs of the future.”
He also says: “Sixty percent of students entering college need remedial courses.” HOW do we fix that?!
“By 2030, 60 percent of adult Texans will need an associate’s degree or higher for future jobs. Today only 30 percent of adult Texans have those degrees compared with 42 percent nationwide.”
Hammond says: “Higher education has a worse completion rate than high school.” He talks about HOW we fix that.
As it stands, Texas could cut as many as 100,000 teachers and school jobs, which will have a ripple effect through the economy. Right now, Texas ranks about 44th out of 50 states in education.
We ask Mr. Hammond and the teachers: “How will cutting education funding improve our status?” Tune in for the answers on Saturday at 9 am Central time on Business 1110 AM, streamed on www.Business1110KTEK.com and Podcast 24/7 at www.GlobalAmerican.org (Click on Favorite Programs).
Michael Fjetland
Global American Series
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