Two Million Minutes - A Global Examination

[unclejunglebass]

brah i got so fucked up in high school dude we are so fucked

[devilteen5]

We suck...

[kilomph1]

Yay public schooling! Yay ZERO competition!

[Petrhrabal]

S3X The good what Americans have is rich social life, that is essential for successfull society... more communication, more wealth. Think Indians or Chinase would never found Google or Facebook...

[DoNotLaughAtMe]

@Petrhrabal Maybe more creativity in america, but more academics in asia.

[disclaimer05]

Is it me, or did they pick the worst examples to represent American students? Terrible propaganda.

[choibaedal]

@disclaimer05

nope, the american students were actually recommended by their schools.



[JohnLeeMD]

@disclaimer05 Not really--it said, the boy was Student Body Pres, and the girl was an Honor Society Pre-Med.

[DeludedGroove]

lol at the video saying that in America your performance in highschool determines your economic future. In many places that may be true but in most of America you could drop out in after 10th grade, go to community college instead and be ahead of people who finished highschool.

[sebwingfield]

The only thing there is a shortage of is good paying jobs with benefits. And the reason there's a shortage is that our corporations send those jobs to India so they can pay lower wages and provide fewer benefits. This reminds me of the overemphasis on coming up with new treatments or a cure for cancer and an underemphasis on preventing it by removing known carcinogens from our diets and the environment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevent by prohibiting labor arbitrage.

[sebwingfield]

Ask yourself if there's a shortage of people with college degrees in the US? No. The market is so flooded with college degrees that college degrees r almost worthless. What about a shortage, or impending shortage of domestic PhD's, Computer, science, math, and tech degrees? No! supply of those has exceeded demand for a long time. There is no shortage of domestic talent.

[sebwingfield]

The point of propaganda like this is get Americans to engage in a race to the bottom with China and India over jobs (the winners (the ones who will get the jobs) are willing to work for less pay, and less benefits, etc.). If the issue were presented honestly like that though no one would willingly engage in the competition. So they must present it as a lack of domestic talent issue. They must create that myth to justify the offshoring that is turning the US into a 3rd world wountry.

[violinplayer101]

ha, I went to the American high school mentioned in this documentary....In my opinion, our high school was more privileged than most public high schools in the US...there were so many AP and IB classes offered, and most students took at least 1 of them...some even took as many as 3 college-level courses

[vrundaful]

i am an indian... i dont think that america is in a real problem..but...look its their country .. they cannot blame us that WE r taking their jobs..we are not...we would be gld if that american fellow come in india and work wid us... BUT they will not...they think that india is underdeveloped... b4 it was like ppl in india would die to go to USA but now that same indian fellow..will starthinking about comming back to india..cuz he will lead a lavish live in india.

[misfitsruby]

india and the chinese dont take mentally challenged kids in their schools

[defend4ever]

...about 60% of PhDs every year go to foreign nationals 0.0 ?? America has to wake up!

[defend4ever]

I don't understand why there anything like Cartels in India, China, Mongolia, or any country like that? Here in the Westhern hem is so corrupted with crime. Mexico, US, Colombia, Venezuela, etc...everything is f***ed up. Also, some things I see are really the same in the US. in my school we have Cadets being in school around 6:30 as well. no difference..doesnt matter is all countrys hit the same level... more education..more technology...then more will the technology hurt the human race..think!

[defend4ever]

I wouldn't say 60min x 24hrs... Don't we students need to have 9 hours of sleep? LOL.24 -9 = 15hrs x 60 = ...do the rest..

[KarthikSoun]

As a Indian i can not see my country ever hurting or bullying the US! We like USA but we hate snobbish attitude though.

[ajazaad]

i india we are not allowed to use calculators until we enter a college or university.

[ajazaad]

no offence but , western culture is such that kids dont devote time for their studies.

Partying every week , and going out literally wastes time , playing video games and all that adds up .

[tennismaster3211]

America = quality

India & China = quantity

quality > quantity

[coooldonkey]

@tennismaster3211 quality? what the hell are you smoking? american students can't even understand the chinese math questions where as chinese students laugh at the american ones

[OhNoeAmanda]

How does America kickass?

We kinda suckk

How does nobody see that?

[HAYLEYPMOO]

This was SUCH a great film...

[XHotShotX978]

I agree everything here is true but America is still the best we kick ASS

[87jscam]

You think a balanced life is time to play video games? These students overseas are learning that hard work leads to success. There is no such lesson in the USA. The students are given less requirements and they do less work. Grades get lower so... they are given even less work. Get it?

[HailRasec]

I have so much free time here in NYC. Nothing compared to the overload of homework and projects back home in southamerica (latinamerica).

[lirumena]

what country in latinamerica? and are you taking ap and honors classes?

[mondaye03]

All hail our Chinese and Indian overlords!

[AmyBaby5784]

Wow, those foreign countries are way ahead of the game.

[techadd123]

lucky fuckers American students in india we are not allowed to use calculators in schools!

[fghtmeun]

Which is stupid if you ask me. If you choose to become an engineer of any kind you will use a calculator. Teaching and instruction should focus on real life everyday scenarios.

[awgu]

Good point fghtmeun. I think the point is however, and surely you have noticed this - there is an overall decline in interest in math and science in America. Everyone is interested in the intellectually vacuous pursit of an arts degree, or maybe law. This is very bad and indicative of a larger social problem - LAZINESS. Which is one thing the 'calculator' point was picking on. We have become soft and lazy.

[Ironzealot7531]

intellectually vacuous?

How dare you? I would love to see you complete a higher degree in these fields before you complain of how "intellectually vacuous" they are.

They may be less marketable, but they are certainly not less intellectually valid. You speak out of pure ignorance, my friend.

[awgu]

@Ironzealot7531 Try not to take it personally. The truth is, the hard truth, that it takes more of an intellect to get a graduate degree in mathematics then it does a graduate degree in English. And proof of this is self evident in the number of graduate candidates, enrollment rates and common sense. I dont give a shit about your self esteem, many liberal arts disciplines graduate airhead morons and do so in far greater number then those who have a graduate degree in Physics!

[Ironzealot7531]

@awgu it's not my self-esteem that I'm defending. I'm a chemical engineer. I was simply pointing out that you don't have a clue what the fuck you are talking about. You said Law is an intellectually vacuous pursuit. My cousin is a lawyer, and I all but guarantee he's smarter than you are.

[scata99]

where can I watch it?

[dweeb43]

I'm not sure that the filmmakers understand what education is.

They seem to equate it with a "high-paying job," not a fulfilled life. If they flipped that, the American kids would come out the winners by a long shot.

[2MillionMinutes]

dweeb you are correct, we equate a quality education with the ability to support a family in reasonable comfort and safety.

If the goal of education is a fulfilled life at low paying jobs, Americans are being better prepared than their Indian and Chinese peers.

U.S. urban schools, in particular, seem to have mastered preparing American students for low wage jobs.

[2MillionMinutes]

Actually, having spent considerable time with the poor in the US, India and China, I would say American poor people are the best educated but least fulfilled.

The poor in India and China strive for a higher standard of living but seem to find contentment and fulfillment in greater numbers.

[maddinenprimetime]

there are big differences between the best schools and the worst in all three of these countries

[passwordthisasspart2]

#1 United States: 2,078,570 prisoners

#2 China: 1,549,000 prisoners

#3 Russia: 846,967 prisoners

#4 India: 313,635 prisoners

#5 Brazil: 308,304 prisoners

#6 Thailand: 213,815 prisoners

#7 Ukraine: 198,386 prisoners

#8 South Africa: 180,952 prisoners USA yes we are #1 #1 yeah ! Oh uuuuuum never mind

[LDgirl8]

we are number one is that a good thing of bad? if we are nunmber one does that mean we have a lot of bad people or are our policemen very good?

[jhtrico1850]

It means we look up people that don't need to be in there, like potheads and whatnot.

[bodidley70]

There was a time when children of wealthy countries were told to finish their dinner because there are kids in poor countries who were starving, now kids in wealthy countries are told to finish their education because there are kids in poor countries who will take their job! Yup the rest of the world is catching up to the rich countries so you americans better wake up and do something about your schools!

[eeblee1987part2]

whoa... this is like the Inconvenient Truth for the education system in United States. I think it needs someone like Gore to back it up. Listen to the "on point" radio show on the 2 million minutes official website. the most nailbiting 46 minutes i've ever listened to. One system that does seem to work is the KIPP schools around the US. I'm not exactly sure where they are... I saw it on 60 minutes about 7 years ago here in Singapore :).

[readmorephilosophy]

This trailer begins with a howling example of substandard spoken english. "American is the one country in the world..."

In what other place (another planet or cosmos perhaps?) could America be a country but "the world?" The speaker then ends his poorly constructed sentence with (again?) "the world."

Is too much parroting of Tom Friedman's slogans (the "world" is flat) further fostering this mindlessness?

Read deeply any book by Jacques Barzun to avoid bad spoken english like this.

[RobertMemphis]

Well... the speaker, Tim Draper, is a high achieving product of the US school system - one of the most successful creators of new companies, new jobs and new wealth in America, the one country in the world where his skills can be best applied. ;-)

[ljubilaei]

You mean "poorly" spoken English? Way to use your adverbs! Good job.

[grinninggranny]

Ha! You got him! Even an old philosopher needs to be careful in a reflexive snit - or a clever dog like ljubilaei will jaw the bone in the soup! I know him. "readmorephilosophy" indeed! He's just a crusty curmudgeon whose pants are too tight.

[ferrell63]

The correct grammer would be: "badly spoken english..." grow a dick, readmorephilosophy.

[stiber]

Actually, it depends on whether you parse the sentence with "spoken" as a verb or an adjective, doesn't it? If the latter, then the writer left out a comma: "...avoid bad, spoken English..." (and capitalization of the proper noun).

On the other hand, these days I'm just happy to read something on the web that doesn't use apostrophes randomly for plural and possessive.

[xXyZaThEx]

@readmorephilosophy Hey guess what? It's spelled "America", all your parentheses detract from anyone fully understanding your arrogance-fueled sentences in the first reading, your second sentence should NOT use the word "but" in conjunction with "in what other place", and Tom Friedman's slogans have nothing to do with poor English. You are the perfect case in point: you attack slogans you don't understand and you cite a French historian as a man who will deliver an American English lesson.

[wentwithoutfood]

@readmorephilosophy I think you meant badly spoken English.

[jhtrico1850]

Better to be well-rounded and have some fun then bury yourself in books. I say.

[TheRealG]

How would I go about ordering this documentary? I live in Canada.

[LittleGuelzy]

I'm so glad this documentary is gaining attention. American schools desperately need reform, even the best are mediocre. Kids making high honors in "good" high schools color posters and talk about their feelings. Meanwhile, they can't write a coherent paragraph or solve simple algebra. Enough.

[SammySteele]

By any chance, is this documentary inspired by the book 'The World is Flat'?

[leighellen123]

Yeah that will help. Deny the facts. Oh wait you must be a product of the public school system.

[SammySteele]

Its a metaphor!

'The World is Flat' is a BOOK that talks about the increasing globalization around the world.

[RobertMemphis]

In part, The World is Flat was an inspiration. So were the more than 100 Indians and Chinese I employ in my technology companies. They are frankly better educated and more well-rounded than their American peers.

[mergirl91]

it's kind of funny to watch, because the two American kids are from my high school (they graduated this past summer). Horray for Carmel though.

[sleeplezzj]

If it's any consolation, just ask yourself: do we really need more engineers and scientists working to produce more and more products to end up in our landfills and the Great Pacific Garbage patch? (much of which originates from Asia) Do we really need more engineers drawing our unemployment dollars repeatedly due to outsourcing? Think about it. Leave Americans to do what we do best: create and innovate. And leave the reverse-engineering and mass-production to those who do it on the cheap.

[sk8terofny363]

I completely disagree with this comment. You're basicly saying that people that aren't Americans CAN'T accel because they are not Americans? That's racism, first off.

Second, the reason why you have a low paying job is exactly what this video is proving. Basicly other people just beat you at your profession, not beacuse of their race, but because they worked harder than you. Simple as that.

[rangergranger]

Do you know how to spell? And if an eductated engineer here in the U.S. has a low-paying job, it's likely because his/her company farmed out their jobs to someplace like India, where the employees work for $1/hour.

[RobertMemphis]

I don't know any educated engineers in America who are in low paying jobs. The computer science, electrical, mechanical and bio-mechanical engineers that work for me all earn well north of $100,000 plus stock options.

[RobertMemphis]

Sorry - I must correct myself. I do know several automotive engineers who are no longer employed in the US auto industry because the Japanese auto companies crushed Detroit.

The lesson is every person must keep their skills on the cutting edge, continually invest in their own life long education and stay nimble when an industry starts to decline.

Bob Compton, Executive Producer, 2MM

[Astepintooblivion]

I find it strange that I can speak better English than a lot of the American guys I meet online.

I'm Asian, and I have never been outside my country. Seriously, you guys had it too easy for so long that you're blaming it on the 'uninnovative' people like the Japanese, or the Germans, or the Italians... hmm... Is it just me or do I smell ultra-rightist klanner?

[cztubeme]

My last note was to respond to Sleeplezzj

[sleeplezzj]

Lefties have Michael Moore, VCs have... Well, I have a tough engineering degree from a bona-fide tough school, and on graduation was greeted with recession. Unable to find work even as a cheaply-priced new grad. 10 years later, I found my engineer position axed - outsourced to a country where engineers with my qualifications work for cheap. I now work in a lower-paying "support", rather than as the highly paid software engineer I once was. Why? For job security! (and health insurance)

[cztubeme]

You don't see the other side of the story. There are plenty young educated people in India/China facing the same problems as you do. I know a young man China graduated with computer degree, but works on toll way collecting money (for benefits as you do). Even with the outsourcing, those people in Asia don't have as good of life as you do. We are all human beings. Why do Americans deserve more than people who are willing to work harder? ENTITLEMENT!

[rangergranger]

Wait, who "works harder"? And if you're concerned about Asian workers, why not give up your own job so that they can have it?

[cztubeme]

Whoever works harder/better with lower cost deserves the job. That's what we learned about capitalism, wasn't it? I won't give up my job to anyone unless someone wins it from me. I earned my medical license with my hard work.

[rangergranger]

I'm not sure where or what you "learned about capitalism", or what you consider capitalism to be. In any case, you should have the courage of your convictions: advocate that 1)the U.S. be flooded with an even greater number of imported-MD's, basically, an unlimited supply; and 2) that the number of U.S. medical schools and residency programs double, or even triple.

You can then work harder and better for even a lower cost to the public.

[cztubeme]

Thank you, I work plenty hard and my job satisfaction comes from happy patients. Working for less doesn't bother me, personally. "Imported MD's" pass the same exams as the Americans (quality control) and they serve the areas less desirable to US-made MD's. With the unhealthy boomers getting old, we do need our medical schools and residency programs double, indeed! Americans outsource medical schools too, BTW.

[jhtrico1850]

What's wrong with more doctors?

[defend4ever]

@jhtrico1850 The idea of them getting worshiped...for example " I saved your life" ,etc. It's not the idea that they like what a doctor does but the idea of what I mentioned.

[cztubeme]

In terms of outsourcing, the Japanese outsourced to the US before the Americans. We did not hear about their complaining, somehow. they simply found other ways to succeed. Now, the Chinese people are outsourcing to southeast Asia. You can not stop the global economy. Even the Democrats can't guarantee you that. Would you like for the Communists to help you?

[rangergranger]

Uh, the Japanese began outsourcing well AFTER the U.S. began outsourcing: the U.S. began farming out its textile industry beginning in the mid-1970's, but Japan didn't start making things in China until the 90's (which explains why the quality of Sony and Panasonic products have deteriorated so much).

As for your implication that I'm somehow a "Communist" -- it's obvious you don't even know what one is. No offense, but I wouldn't want you as my doctor.

[cztubeme]

Quality control of Sony and Panasonic products was done by the Japanese engineers. Quality of Japanese cars produced in the U.S. are done the same way. You can be the judge. Communists are against competition. They do have the iron hands to artificially separate their countries from the rest of the world. That's what I am referring to. I don't think you are a communist. We are not here to discuss all the theories by Marx/Lenin/Mao.

[jinxed123]

americans have every right to be defensive about this documentary. But having experienced both societies and education structure there are challenges in both education systems. While indian/chinese focus too much on education, math/science program..US education system aims for education for all and all interest. Other key difference is India/chinese system puts lot of pressure on student to do well and learn while US system is fairly relaxed and relies on students accountability.

[rangergranger]

Do the film makers point out that CHEATING is endemic among Indian students, and that the cheating continues when they come over here to study in the U.S? I personally witnessed a group of about ten Indian students blatently swapping test answers during an analytical chem final here in the USA. As far as China: many Chinese chem grad applicants submit bogus GRE scores to American programs to gain acceptance.

[jinxed123]

agreed there are problems but you need to look beyond that.

[sk8terofny363]

Well, if you watched them, then why didn't you stop them?

[Astepintooblivion]

Blanket stereotyping aren't we?

Is it correct then to say that since I've only seen fat Americans, all Americans are fat?

[sreevysh]

are you saying there isn't any cheating among american students? LOL

[aaronstomfoolery]

soccer, cheer practice and all the other things we get excited about here. As an executive recruiter, I see the resumes and also speak with many companies. Company after company is outsourcing increasingly skilled positions out of the US. MFG is already gone. When will the general Public and Politicians wake up and address this. Our leadership of the world stage will fade out like Ancient Rome and Great Britain-only faster now, as technology speeds. Barrack?/ McCain? Can you help US?! SOS!!!!

[aaronstomfoolery]

I hope this film serves as a wake up call. Education is respected, endorsed and fostered by the cultures in India and China. As a 1st gen.immigrant of Indian parents, I see a glaring disparity between the way I was educated here in the US and the way my parents were in India. I do not fault the schools, but the steady decline of western culture, morals and standards itself. If the schools were to raise the bar and really push-parents would protest, as it would interfere with football,baseball...

[LogicalFlawDetector]

@aaronstomfoolery

Actually, the Indians who move to the United States are from urban India. And they were educated in mostly English speaking schools. When you take India as a whole, including rural India (which is most of India), the literacy levels, educational levels, and the motivation to seek education plummet. The education system in the United States is much better than those of third world countries. I am from India itself, I know this.

[rockingnandpatel]

@LogicalFlawDetector hey bud i am also indian before anything like this you should also take in consideration of the quality of the life and earning power in villages...and their need to be educated...every time i read that some village boys and girls are the topper in the nation or the state right...so by saying that rural education is worst thats not true..i am in canada and i know the quality of the education "TECHNOLOGY AND MONEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY"

[surfergirl212]

"90% of the time an indian does is try and get a feel of where he/she stands in the rat race and how he/she can get ahead. by the time he has the resources (or at least feels satisfied that he does) he's too old.

What they should be doing is wracking their heads to find a solution to this problem of losing out on time. time we could all spend far more effectively engaged in something better than work and making money."

[surfergirl212]

from an indian classmate: "overall i'd say more american kids turn out to be well-rounded individuals than indian kids do. don't, i say, don't look at your immediate friend circle and deem this incorrect. it is very true. maybe most of us were fortunate enough to be brought up in a slightly more modern way, but we cannot deny the fact that we still have a long way to go before we can say we graduate balanced individuals through our schools/colleges."

[fanClassicRock]

The global economy is not about churning out "well-rounded individuals" its about producing individuals best suited for their jobs. While girls like you are busy being "well rounded" Indians are busy being specialists in what they do. At the end of the day just look at any invention, discovery, art, architecture any industry that you can possibly fathom and you will see that its being produced by specialists not by "well-rounded individuals", that the Amierican mindset is so obsessed about.

[Ironzealot7531]

"At the end of the day just look at any invention, discovery, art, architecture any industry that you can possibly fathom and you will see that its being produced by specialists not by "well-rounded individuals"

Tell that to Leonardo Da Vinci

[jaiPawanPutraHanuman]

And how many Vinci's are there, do tell me that?

In any case Vinci was an over hyped, painter and inventor. He didn't publish any thing substantial, most of his crap was found in the form of doodles in notebooks.

[Ironzealot7531]

In renaissance Italy, most scientists dabbled in the arts and vice versa. That's why we use the phrase "renaissance man" to describe someone who is multi-talented in many disciplines.

I tend to believe people are becoming too specialized in whatever field of study they prefer. Take a look at the biographies of a few recent nobel laureates, and you'll be struck by how many polymaths win the greatest honor in the sciences.

True geniuses excel at everything

[jaiPawanPutraHanuman]

You are talking about 16 th century Italy, and equating it with the world today.

I am willing to bet that you dont work in the technology side of things because if you did you won't say the things that you did. The mass of information that is available today in a single field is impossible for 1 man to master. Being a polymath's is different from being DA VINCI you won't find ANY of those nobel laureates, performing in an orchestra, which is your idea of genius.

[jadesystem]

This is a wake-up call for all Americans. We are way behind other countries in the three

"R"s !! We have illiterate college professors and we glorify stupidity and antics in uneducated celebrities. We love money, but won't apply ourselves to better ourselves through education to earn it. There is no other experience in the world than growing-up American. We value our freedoms, expressions, and beliefs.

Most Americans don't want to read, study,

or want to better themselves. We LUV TV !

[and1skip23]

at 50 seconds.... too funny

[q1ax]

Take my advice in america you people should take away calculators in schools because your making many Zombie kids that going around and people ask them a question and they be like ?huh? . And also kids arent afraid of teachers well then allow them to take a stick and HIT the children, They are living a too confortable life listen music Ipod and Sex movies should be BAN because its really distroying the smart young mind of the american kids really their are big problems.

[lajavachica]

I disagree. Taking away calculators certainly doesn't solve the "?huh?". Never using a calculator isn't very practical. That "hit the children" comment is ...well I don't agree with physically hurting children into doing well. The problem is certainly not the ipod and the sex movies may hurt morals but it does not destroy minds. I do agree that American kids are pampered compared to those of other countries.

[rockingnandpatel]

@lajavachica sir ofcourse you are right about calculator but what will you do when you need to calculate something and you dont know to do it without calculator...calculation we do all of the day...i work in grocery store and i have always notice that mostly 3 in 5 people cannot cross check the change given by me so thats why calculator shouldnt be given in examination and if children are using it in maths exam how will you determine that they "really" know how to calculate simple things??

[4learning]

I am a high school teacher; I guess I need to see the video. I'm wondering if India and China have the same social paradigms- is education for everyone? I know they must have a huge working class of people in fields and factories- are they, too, striving to educate more and more of their populations despite social and cultural barriers?

[4learning]

I'm anxious to see the movie. The scariest part is that you and Brittany are the "creme de la creme" in our educational system. I don't see you as lazy- I'm sure if you were pushed by the educational system, you'd rise to the challenge. I wonder if most of the Chinese and Indian students are taught and pushed at that high level- or if there is more tracking?

[RobertMemphis]

Neil and Brittany are bright and typical high achieving students in the US. Both got their first choices in college - Purdue and Indiana University.

The reality is US students take a fraction of the tests Indian and Chinese students take.

The SAT is a 3 hour exam in math, English and writing.

In India, the CBSE exam is 15 hours long - 3 hours EACH in math, science, English, Hindi, social sciences.

Bob Compton, Executive Producer, 2 Million Minutes

[SammySteele]

This may sound like an idiotic question, but is the CBSE exam taken in one day, or though out several days?

[RobertMemphis]

It is taken over 3 days - 5 hours per day.

[eduresources]

I think the trailer, does portray students as being ditzy, I hope that during the documentary it portrays them as hard working and excelling in our current system, which is not adequate.

[RobertMemphis]

The Trailer is intended to grab your interest and present the core premise of the film in a bold way.

You'll find the film is very balanced in its portrayal of high achieving students in all three countries.

Bob Compton, Exec. Producer, 2 Million Minutes

[ne8il]

This trailer somewhat makes me look unmotivated and lazy.

But... I am also somewhat unmotivated and lazy, so I guess that's to be expected.

-neil

[lajavachica]

hahaha! thats kind of funny