For a state to compete, it must lead in education

By WENDELL R. ANDERSON and ARNE H. CARLSON

Recent coverage of global competition raised the question of whether u.s. education, particularly in math and science, will keep pace with that of emerging countries such as China and India. For years, we have been warned that the outsourcing of vital employment will continue as long as we refuse to improve our educational outcomes. Now,' Govs. Janet Napolitano, D-Ariz., and Tnn Pawlenty, R-Minn., have declared that the nation's governors will focus on this problem. Before going national, however, they maywant to improve their own states' pictures.

In Minnesota, better results will not occur if we continue on the current course. For us to compete effectively on a global basis, we must maximize opportunities for educational success for all young people. That means removing barriers to academic achievement, including poor nutrition and lack of access to health care. It means more quality early childhood learning, a challenging K-12 experience and affordaole higher education. Minnesota is losing ground in all these areas.

Access to higher education is increasingly being blocked by stag. gering tuition hikes. On the K-12 front, our state government's commitment to technology in schools ranked No.1 in 1999, but our lack of investment caused us to place 49th among states by 2006.

As a public, we recognize declines in investment more readily in transportation than we do in education or health. But all are vital if we intend to successfully compete.

During the past decade, our political leadership sold us on the notion of war without sacrifice, tax cuts with spending increases and massive debt accumulation without consequences. The results will be tragic. Efforts to compete must rest on the understanding that leaders challenge the status quo and motivate people and institutions to elevate their expectation and vision.

Pawlenty has indicated that it may take another Sputnik to make us act on the crisis in education: Visionary leaders seize the initiative and create their own Sputniks.

Wendell R. Anderson and Arne H. Carlson are former governors of Minnesota