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The Perfect Storm
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Jeff Miller
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Mar 14, 2007 03:47 PST
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Hi folks,
I generally don't like to post stuff to this list that isn't very
positive. But what I have just seen should be a major wake up call for a
whole lot of us. I know that many readers on this list are not in the
U.S., so I would just say to you... take a look at what you are about to
read and see if there are any similarities where you live.
We're having a taste of spring here. I hope you're having great weather
where you are too.
Be well.... /jeff
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Changing demographics, a changing economy and declining levels of
literacy,these are the elements of what is being called "America's
Perfect Storm," a paper written by ETS researchers and issued by its
Policy Information Center. Here is an excerpt from the ETS web site at
www.ets.org:
A report from ETS's Policy Information Center, America's Perfect Storm:
Three Forces Changing Our Nation's Future, looks at the convergence of
three powerful sociological and economical forces that are changing our
nation's future:
* substantial disparities in skill levels (reading and math)
* seismic economic changes (widening wage gaps)
* sweeping demographic shifts (less education, lower skills)
There is little chance that economic opportunities will improve among
key segments of our population if we follow our current path. To
date,educational reform has not been sufficient to solve the problem.
National test results show no evidence of improvement over the last 20
years. Scores are flat and achievement gaps persist. Hope for a better
life - with decent jobs and livable wages - will vanish unless we act
now.
The website with variations of this report (including powerpoint slides)
can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/2lyodb
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