But, today, what once was a path to prosperity is leading us to second place -- or actually 18th place internationally, according to a recent study on secondary education by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Indeed, the statistics paint a stark picture. According to the OECD study, only 75 percent of American students graduate from high school, compared to 93 percent in South Korea.
The figures are especially disheartening in the Hispanic community. The Pew Hispanic Center released earlier this year that 41 percent of Hispanic adults in the U.S. do not have a high school diploma, compared with 14 percent of white adults. You don't need a degree in economics to know that those who have gone on to college level coursework typically earn more money than high school graduates. In the district I represent in South Texas -- which is largely Hispanic -- only about 20 percent of adults have college degrees.
Approximately 40 states currently have a deficit or are in a deficit situation, and many are cutting spending on education, leading to major job losses for teachers. In August, Congress was called back in session and passed emergency legislation for the education community, providing $10 billion total for the nation. This legislation will save or create 319,000 jobs, including 161,000 teacher jobs with 13,400 jobs in Texas.
Last April in Laredo, more than 300 middle school students participated in a program called STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. Hispanics lag in these fields and it's vital that our schoolchildren are aware of opportunities in these industries. They met with scientists and engineers from NASA, Texas Instruments,
Mercedes Benz Technology, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Texas A&M International University, among others. Through hands-on work stations and labs, these students were exposed to a whole new world of career options. I'm proud to say that this event will grow and continue annually.
More than any other commodity, the industrious mind is America's greatest resource, and we need to make sure we are maintaining our investment to compete globally. READ FULL STORY
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