New Trailer for Two Million Minutes

America is finished! It's too late for this country, unfortunately.

While I too have become pessimistic, I am reminded of Winston Churchil's observation about Americans:

"America will always do the right thing, but only after exhausting all other options."

The last 30 years we have been exhausting all other options to meaningful improvement in K-12 education.

We are very close, with the President and Sec Duncan's leadership and courage, to "doing the right thing."

The other thing is that we tend to learn what we need on the job, or in order to get the job. It is better we got the "fun" years early on. I know the Indians NEVER get the "fun" years. they are practically drones.

I'll let Indians comment on your view of them as "drones" and that they are with joy in their lives.

I find your remarks offensive, but I'm not Indian.

You were quick to pull the racism card weren't you. You made the assumption that I didn't think similar things about many of the people who are white working at most 500+ employee corporations.  All I have to do is look at San Jose to know that there are many white people who are drones as well.

The life of a Drone:
Wake up.
Get Dressed
Get In Car
Open Garage Door
Pull Car out
Close Garage door
Drive to work.
Work 8-16 hours.
Drive home.
open garage door
Drive in.
Close garage door
go to bed.

I only said I found your comments offensive, but if you feel you are a racist, ok by me.

Moistpup, I thought Silicon Valley was the heaven of the creative class...

Now I'm getting disillusioned. I thought you were in that "fun" "cool" "entertaining" place where no one needs to know math and they live an idyllic, creative, well-paid life.

What about the "non-conforming" Bay Area people? You make it sound like...like...India or China! :-)

Say it ain't so, moistpup!

You're not a drone, right?

So what? They aren't proficient in math, big whoop. I've been a software engineer for 10 years doing cutting edge website creation using enterprise Java... and I never touch math... ever.

Well, I'm happy for you moistpup.

Unfortunately, not every job in the 21st century will be Java programming without any use of math. There will be some, of course, but why not excel?

As Pres. Obama recently stated "the best jobs will go to the best educated." I believe him.

As one thinks about the new industries of the 21st century, many (not all) of the highest paying careers WILL require regular use of math more advanced than Algebra - nano-tech, alternative energy, genetic therapies, etc.

Interesting point.

China has doubled the number of colleges in the past decade to nearly 2,000.

The US has approximately 3,000 colleges - a static number for 25 years.

Two Million Minutes - The 21st Century Solution celebrates an American Charter School - BASIS Tucson- that educates ordinary US kids to an extraordinary level - above the global standard.

It achieves that feat in 180 school days - the same as most US government schools.

And the school is anything BUT dismal. It is hard work, that is true.

Succeeding at a global level in any activity takes effort - athletics or academics - wish I could change that for you.