The 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress report on the ability of students to understand science at three grade levels had depressing results. The data was based on a sample of the knowledge of 4th, 8th, and 12th grade students.

“Thirty-four percent of fourth-graders,30 percent of eighth-graders, and 21 percent of twelfth-graders performed at or above the Proficient level in science in 2009,” the report said. “Proficient” falls between “Advanced” and “Basic” knowledge and is a critical benchmark. “The NAEP Proficient level represents solid academic performance for each grade assessed, with the ultimate achievement goal of all students performing at the Proficient level or higher.”

The data will fuel arguments among policymakers, politicians, parents and educators. The battles will be nearly worthless. The U.S. has not come up with a way to reverse the decline of the education system including the poor performance of American children compared with their peers in many other countries.

At the core of the trouble of US education deficiencies are economic problems such as housing and unemployment. Countries which do well on most of the science tests have either socialistic or centralized government regimes. These nations can dictate education policy. And, they can either force the government’s will or pay for programs that keep their students competitive among the world’s nations.

The ability to debate major problems endlessly and thus defer solutions has been a hallmark of American culture and government for two centuries. It has often served Americans well. Recently, it has not. The President’s State of The Union address will touch off another round of wars over taxes, US debt, deficit reduction and the programs that will create jobs and keep the country competitive in areas such as technology. The two parties and a number of factions in each will square off against one another. The effect is that nothing may be decided on a number of key issues. That is a choice and not a necessity.

The major issues which face the country now, and education is among them, have gotten to the Achilles’ Heel of open government in America. Many voices are supposed to create broad and successful solutions. Instead, they often defer them.

America needs a monarch, perhaps for only a decade. The current system has blocked hindered student achievement in science among many other things. And, the current system shows no signs of righting itself.

Methodology: National and state samples of 156,500 fourth-graders and 151,100 eighth-graders, and a national sample of 11,100 twelfth-graders, responded to questions designed to measure their knowledge and abilities in physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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