Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination

Disclaimers Required by HGSE • My film is descriptive, not prescriptive - Answers are not at the end.

• The film represents my own observations - it is not:

– Validated by a peer reviewed journal

– Sanctified by a foundation funded study

– Memorialized by a Government report

• Yes, I know there are 2.6 billion people in these countries

– No, six students are not meant to represent entire societies

• I do not have a radical political agenda; I’m not advocating the elimination of U.S. Colleges of Education, the abolishment of Teacher’s Unions or the dissolution of school boards

• While I have chosen to change how my own children are educated, I am in no way implying or endorsing those changes for anyone else

• No, I do not think the US should be more like China or India - except perhaps in individual humility and common courtesy

1. Tim Draper

2. Tenche Cox

3. Lars Windfelt

896. Victoria Gartner

897. Al Hubbard

898. Lacey Winters

899. Daniel Comiskey

900. George W. Bush

HBS 1984 HBS 1978

Harvard Business School - Class of 1984

Class Ranking out of 900 Class Ranking

897. Jeff Furber

898. Thomas Johnson

899. Robert A. Compton

900. Sandy Ridgeway

POP QUIZPOP QUIZ

# 1 – What is the population of US? India? China?

USA India China

300 Million 1.1 Billion 1.3 Billion

#2 – How many K-12 students are there in the USA? In India? In China?

USA INDIA CHINA

Total 54M 212M 194M

K-8 38M 177M 170M

High School 16M 35M 24MSource: Hechinger Institute, Columbia University

Institute of Psychology Study at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

BONUS QUESTION:

How many Chinese students are in Gifted and Talented programs? 35M

# 3 - What percent of engineering PhD’s from US colleges are awarded to foreign students annually?

60%

BONUS QUESTIONS:

What percent of college graduates receive a degree in Science or Engineering in the USA? In India? In China?

USA India China

17% 42% 58%

What percent of US college graduates are Engineers?

5%

# 4 – What are the most widely taught foreign languages in US schools? In China? India?

USA India China

SpanishFrenchLatin

English English

BONUS QUESTIONS:

What languages has the CIA identified as most strategic for the 21st century?

A) Spanish, French and Latin?

B) Hindi, Mandarin, Arabic and Farsi?

Why do we still teach French in American Schools?

Speed Round # 5 - what country will be the largest English speaking country

by 2020?

# 6 - after the US, which country has the most Billionaires?

# 7 – From the 1983 report “A Nation At Risk”, how many of the recommendations to improve U.S. education have been implemented over the past 25 years?

# 8 – according to Stanford economist, Erik Hanushek, a nation’s GDP growth correlates to the level of achievement in a population in only two academic subjects. What are they?

#8.5 – what is the Balance of Trade between the US & China?

# 9 – In what country is the largest, most lucrative business plan competition held?

• Hints:– 120,000 entrepreneurs participate– Winner gets $1.5 million to start company

• COMMUNIST CHINA !– TV show called “Win In China” – Weekly on CCTV 2

Final Question – Name the Country

1) Richest in the world

2) Largest military

3) Center of world business & finance

4) Strongest public education system

5) World center of innovation & invention

6) Currency is the world standard

7) Highest standard of living in the world

Great Britain – 1900

Aug/Sept 08

Oct/Nov 08 Jan 09

AvailableNow

My Premise

1) Global Education Standards passed us

2) India and China are setting the standards

3) Americans unaware of this fact

4) Ignore Global Standards at our peril

5) US academic and economic leadership are not guaranteed in 21st Century

Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination

Comparing H. S. Curricula – India & US

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

AcademicsIndia(Apoorva)

Math, Chemistry,Biology, Physics, World History, Geography,English Grammar,English Literature, Hindi Grammar, Hindi Literature, Civics, Computers

Math, Chemistry,Biology, Physics, World History, Geography,English Grammar,English Literature, Hindi Grammar, Hindi Literature, Civics, Computers

Must pass Proficiency exam in all subjects

Math, Chemistry, Physics, English Grammar, English Literature, Computers,Environmental Education

Math, Chemistry, Physics, English Grammar, English Literature, Computers,Environmental Education

Academics USA(Neil)

English, Algebra, Biology, Spanish, Drawing, Interpersonal Relationships, Newspaper, Physical Education

English, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry I, World History, Spanish II, Physical Education, Newspaper, Drawing 2

English, History, Calculus 1 & 2, Physics I, US History, Spanish III, Advanced Physical Conditioning, Newspaper

English Lit & Composition, Creative Writing, Statistics I & II,Environmental Science, Macroeconomics, Spanish IV, Recreational Games, Newspaper

The fault is not in our schools,but in ourselves.

• 21st century will be:• Most economically competitive in history• Increasingly knowledge intensive• Rapidly changing technologies

• Schools reflect broader culture• America is a sports and extracurricular culture• India and China are academic cultures

• Are 20th Century Norms Valid for 21st Century? • The myth of the “well-rounded” American student• Versus reality of the cognitively well-educated Indian or Chinese

Summary

• Indian and Chinese cultures are ideal for 21st century economy

• America needs a cultural adjustment before its schools can improve

• US entrepreneurs will need more global networks – communication & human

• US residents will need to be more involved in their children’s education

What knowledge and skills I tell my children they will need in the 21st century?

• Cognitive Skills – the world will be more technically complex in this century; – master all the math and science you can

• Entrepreneurship – Learn to recognize opportunity, create products that serves customers and– Learn how to organize, finance and grow your own business. – Think "make a job" not "take a job”

• Salesmanship – learn how to sell - your ideas, your products, your company, yourself.

• Follow Your Passions– Better to be inspired, motivated and energized, than rich– The two are not mutually exclusive

• Think Globally– the world is your market AND your competition

• Use the Power of Networks– The Internet and social and business networks– Have lots of Indian and Chinese friends