Franklin Schargel’s Blog

According to a new report from the International Institute of Management Development, the United States is still the world’s most competitive economy.  The World Competitiveness Year Book for 2008 rates such factors as economic growth, quality of life and enviornmental responsibility.  It ranks 55 economies based on more than 250 criteria.  The rankings are based, in part, on an annual survey of top and mid-level executives in 55 countries.

Twenty years ago, Japan topped the ratings -before the financial crisis of the late 1980’s and ’90’s.  China’s ranking fell to #17 from #15 this year because of higher inflation and the fast-growing economy’s strain on the environment.  But Brazil’s ranking rose to #43 from #49 in 2007.

Selective listings are below:

US #1 in 2008, In 2007: #1

Singapore #2 in 2008, In 2007: #2

Hong Kong #3 in 2008, In 2007: #3

Canada #10 in 2008, In 2007: #8

Netherlands #8 in 2008, In 2007: #10

Germany  #16 in 2008  In 2007: #16

United Kingdom  #20 in 2008  In 2007: #21

Japan  #24 in 2008  In 2007: #22

India  #27 in 2008  In 2007: #29

Korea  #29 in 2008  In 2007: #31

Spain  #30 in 2008  In 2007: #33

Philippines  #40 in 2008  In 2007: #43

Brazil  #49 in 2008  In 2007: #43

Mexico  #47 in 2008  In 2007: #50

South Africa  #50 in 2008  In 2007: #53

This should not be an opportunity to gloat.  Here in the United States, the conservative media enjoys criticizing the school’s when negative news appears.   But when Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat discusses the globally competitive world and that India and China have become more globally competitive, we need to realize that American schools have kept America globally competitive.

The “Diploma’s Count 2008” report (www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/05) criticizes the schools in its Executive Summary by stating, “About 71 percent of 9th graders make it to graduation four years later, according to data from 2005, the latest available.  And that figure drops to 58 percent for Hispanics, 55 percent for African-Americans, and 51 percent for Native Americans.” These figures have made the national and local news media.

What has not been reported is the following quotation from the Executive Summary:  “Those rates improved slightly from 2004 to 2005 for all groups.”

I do not have a problem with negative reports about schools in the press and a 71% graduation rate is nothing we should be jumping for joy about.  But I would like all of the evidence reported.

We know that our non-traditional students take greater risks than traditional students.  In a report issued by the the CDC, these facts are confirmed.

The study is the latest in a series of survey of US high school students taken every two years.  The findings come from a survey of about 14,000 high school students. The 2007 data showed higher rates of risk-taking by Hispanics in several areas.

Hispanic students were more likely than either whites or blacks to attempt suicide, ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol, or use cocaine, heroin or ecstasy.  About 10 to 11 percent of Hispanics said that they attempted suicide, compared with around 17% of whites, and 9% of blacks. The report noted that black and white students are reporting less sexual activity than in previous years but there was no decline among Hispanics.  Hispanics also most often drank alcohol on school property, were offered  or sold illegal drugs, and occasionally skipped school because they feared for their safety.

Whites reported the highest rates of smoking and heavy drinking, while blacks reported the highest rates of obesity, violence and sexual activity.

The 2008 Diplomas Count Report  was issued today by “Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, the people who publish Education Week.  The report is revealing for those in the United States.  It shows that U.S. Public High Schools are losing 6.829 students per day.  (This works out to 171 school buses, per day, loaded with children dropout in a 180 school year.)  The state of California, which educates the most students, is losing 900 students per day.  Texas is losing 656 per day while North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming are losing 10 or less.  You can visit your state’s results by accessing (https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/06/05/40sgb.h27.html).

Educators know that the school year has time built in to recharge batteries.  As summer approaches, you need to take some time for yourself.  Turn off your internal clock.  You do not have to get up at an unearthly hour.  Your do not have to time your physical functions around your break or lunch.

Take this time to read the book you have been promising yourself you would read.  Get to know your husband/wife/children.  Play some golf.  Take a vacation.  Or simply do nothing!

You’ve earned the time. Now spend it.  Enjoy yourself.

Hope to see you back here soon.