US: Magic is no solution to education crisis

In the early 20th century, the distinguished philosopher Alfred North Whitehead observed: "The task of the university is the creation of the future..." Harvard president Drew Gilpin Faust noted that this creative work is done by educating "those to whom the future belongs, and by generating the ideas and discoveries that can transform the present and build a better world", writes Jonathan R Cole for the Huffington Post.

This is the mission of great universities and the United States has been pre-eminent in the world at translating these goals into the reality that has improved our lives. Yet, perhaps paradoxically, our international leadership in higher education is under threat from nations that apparently understand better than we do that investment in human capital and knowledge creation hold the key to economic well-being in the future.

Asian societies like China and India are investing roughly 3% or more of their GDP in higher education; the United States is investing about 2.7% of GDP in its universities and research-related activities. The trend line in America is down; in Asia it is up. Too many Americans apparently prefer believing in magic rather than what has worked over the past 100 years to improve America's welfare and competitiveness. What accounts for this paradox?
Full report on the Huffington Post site