Comparing U.S. high schools to India, China

Next time you pick up your phone for computer help and someone answers in India, think about Bob Compton.

Compton is a venture capitalist from Memphis, Tenn., who is alarmed by what he sees when he travels the world --U.S. students falling behind their international counterparts when it comes to math and science.

That means businesses like his, which need high-tech workers, are increasingly hard pressed to find qualified Americans to hire. It's a common complaint these days, but Compton has gone out and done something about it. He produced a movie, 2 Million Minutes, that compares students in the United States, India and China.  It's been out since last fall, but you probably didn't know that -- let's just say that Compton is no Jerry Bruckheimer. The film has its critics, and those familiar with the hyper-competitive atmosphere in top-performing L.A. schools may wonder whether the American students in the movie are really representative. Still, the problem it addresses is real, and the movie raises some interesting questions. You can read a Times story here, find out more at film's website here, or watch the trailer.

-- Mitchell Landsberg

Comments

[Ron]

I am living in Hong Kong for a few months and have been to India many times. From what I have seen in India and China, I think they will dominate the world Economy witihin a few years. The young have a serious drive and knows far more than average American High School students. They are however less creative .. but they are extremely hard working and resilient. I think the socialism in India and China has held these countries back for quite a while and now it has opened up and they can truly get back to their shining history when they used to control 2/3rds of the world ecomony in the 1700s before colonialism ..