What’s our Sputnik? The Generation that has forgotten Sputnik!

I would just like to begin by saying let’s agree to disagree Mr. Friedman. America has and will continue to be one of the greatest nations in the world and just because we are at war does not mean that we cannot push for almost all the things that you mention in your op-ed. As you quoted Michael Mandelbaum, the Johns Hopkins foreign policy expert said "Our response to Sputnik made us better educated, more productive, more technologically advanced and more ingenious. I say it is our response, as a people and as a government that will really be the determining factor. I agree that we are too dependent on foreign oil, that we are not paying enough attention to China, that we have a population of people in America who would rather receive a government check than a paycheck, and that our emphasis on education is not realistic or helpful in advancing Science, Technology, or Engineering. I would also like to add that in our push to send every kid to college we are ignoring the value of career and technical education and the large amounts of jobs that are available for those with this type of training and a desire to work.  I disagree that the War on Terror is the cause of any of these things.

We are and have been reliant on foreign oil for a long time before the War on terror began and our own government has not allowed companies to explore and drill for oil on our own land or in our oceans. We also have a population in America who have been dependent on the U.S. Government for their paycheck instead of a real job. Our government has been enabling this life style since the 1930’s with poor welfare policies. I would also challenge that our focus on “Leaving No Child Behind,” “AYP,” and sending every kid to college is one of the reasons that Science and Technology is suffering in the United States. AYP and “No Child Left Behind” have put such a huge emphasis on reading, math, and standardized tests that other subject areas and the development of critical thinking skills are suffering in American Students. Not every kid is meant to go to college and get a degree, some are meant to go to technical school and become welders and mechanics. But these programs are being cut because of the emphasis on sending every kid to college. China has been moving towards and passed us before the War on Terror began and these other problems have existed before the War on Terror began and would probably exist even if the War on Terror had never begun. Unless there are profound changes in the people of the United States of America and the government of the United States of America we will continue to ignore China and not encourage the spirit of hard work and innovation that has yet to be discovered in this generation that has forgotten Sputnik.

Resources

Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8. Retrieved from the Walden University Library using the ProQuest Central database.