Rotting from Within: American Education and National Security.

摘要

America's Education System (K-12) is not adequately preparing its citizens to compete in the 21st Century global environment. As a consequence, low quality education has become a national security crisis. It is now manifesting in the nation's economic decline, the deterioration of the nation's social fiber, the growing distrust of the nation's political system and its elected leaders, and the increasing difficulties U.S. Armed Forces are encountering in recruiting fully qualified applicants to serve in our nation's Armed Forces. To address this situation, the Department of Defense (DoD) must immediately partner with the nation's educational community and political leaders -- from the local to the national level -- to bring about necessary reforms. This research project focuses on the crisis in the American K-12 education system. The paper surveys significant past and present reform initiatives in the American education system; compares U.S. and global education statistics; identifies problems facing America's education system; shows how the nation's education system impacts national security by identifying the economic, health, physical fitness, character, values, and citizenship ramifications of the current crisis; and concludes with recommendations for educational partnership initiatives among DoD, other government agencies, and the private sector.