Better learn

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said this about education: "Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future - if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas - then we also have to win the race to educate our kids."

Earlier that day, we got some news about how we're doing in that race.

The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that less than half of American students are proficient in science. The ability of the country to produce leaders in science is "seriously in danger," according to one of the test administrators. Among the myriad discouraging details in the results was that virtually no black high school students scored proficient in science.

To further focus the problem, what parents would not rather see better education for their children? It's one thing to speak in the abstract about risks to American innovation. It's another to think of that individual high school senior in your own neighborhood, or your own house, who just went through all those years of school and has so little to show for it.

We can blame schools for this failure. We can blame teachers. We can blame parents. But, no matter where we point the finger, we must admit we are failing ourselves. And we must find a way to do better.

- Loveland Daily (Colo.) Reporter-Herald