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PHOTO: BLOOMBERG (APPLE STORE EXTERIOR), GETTY IMAGES (INSIDE APPLE STORE)
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The Education Our Economy Needs
By NORM AUGUSTINE
Here's a quiz for our high school readers: In which of the following subjects is the performance of American 12th-graders the worst? a) Science, b) Economics, c) History, or d) Math? With all the talk of America's very real weaknesses in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math), you might be surprised to learn that the answer—according to the federal government's National Assessment of Educational Progress—is neither science nor math. And despite what might be suggested by the number of delinquent home loans, high school seniors actually fare best in economics. Which leaves history as the answer, the subject in which students perform the most poorly. It's a result that puts American employers and America's freedoms in a worrisome spot. But why should your history scores matter in the corporate executive suite? After all, if a leader can make the numbers, does it really matter if he or she can recite the birthdates of all the presidents? Well, it's not primarily the memorized facts that have current and former CEOs like me concerned. It's the other things that subjects like history impart: critical thinking, research skills and the ability to communicate clearly. Such skills are certainly important for those at the top, but in today's economy, they are fundamental to performance at nearly every level. A failing grade in history suggests that students are not only failing to comprehend our nation's story and that of our world, but also failing to develop skills that are crucial to employment across many industries. Having traveled in 109 countries in this global economy, I have developed a considerable appreciation for the importance of knowing a country's history and politics. A candidate who demonstrates capabilities in critical thinking, creative problem-solving and communication has a far greater chance of being employed today than someone without those skills. And these aren't skills that only a graduate education or a consulting job can confer. They are competencies that our public elementary and high schools can and should be developing through subjects like history. Far more than simply conveying the story of a country or civilization, an education in history can create critical thinkers who can digest, analyze and synthesize information and articulate their findings. These are skills needed across a broad range of subjects and disciplines. In fact, students who are exposed to more modern methods of history education—where critical thinking and research are emphasized—tend to perform better in math and science. As a case in point, students who participate in National History Day— In my position as CEO of a firm employing over 80,000 engineers, I can testify that most were excellent engineers—but what most distinguished those who advanced in the organization was the ability to think broadly and read and write clearly. Now is a time to re-establish history's importance in American education. We need to take this opportunity to ensure that today's history teachers are teaching in a more enlightened fashion, going beyond rote memorization and requiring students to conduct original research, develop a viewpoint and defend it. If the American economy is to recover from the Great Recession—and I believe it can—it will be because of a ready supply of workers with the critical thinking, creative problem-solving, technological and communications skills needed to fuel productivity and growth. The subject of history is an important part of that foundation. Mr. Augustine, a former undersecretary of the Army, is the retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin.
ADDITIONAL READING "Was the $5 Billion Worth It?" is an interview with Bill Gates--a decade into his record-breaking education philanthropy. "A Decade Later, Schools Find Lessons in 9/11" looks at how teachers handle the task of trying to explain the significance of 9/11 to today's generation of students. "Schools, Businesses Focus on Critical Thinking" explores the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving skills and the ability to think independently for new hires. WEB RESOURCES OBJECTIVE STANDARDS REVIEW ACTIVITY IDEAS • Why do you think today's students perform so poorly in history? As a class, brainstorm ways that you can present historical information that would make it easier to learn. • Interview one of the history teachers at your school or invite him or her to speak to the class about this article. • Take an American history test online (Intercollegiate Studies Institute (link here). How did you score? Compare your results with the rest of your classmates. List the questions that a majority of the class got incorrect. Discuss why. • Read your state's history standards, or the Common Core history standards (link here). What is included in the standards that you read? What wasn't included? What are the most important aspects of history education, according to the standards? What do you think Mr. Augustine would think of the Common Core standards? "Was the $5 Billion Worth It?" is an interview with Bill Gates--a decade into his record-breaking education philanthropy. "A Decade Later, Schools Find Lessons in 9/11" looks at how teachers handle the task of trying to explain the significance of 9/11 to today's generation of students. "Schools, Businesses Focus on Critical Thinking" explores the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving skills and the ability to think independently for new hires. WEB RESOURCES
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