LIVE TAP CHAT - FRIDAY, APRIL 7 FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M. EDT

As part of the business community's campaign to strengthen U.S. competitiveness by improving scientific and technological capabilities, Business Roundtable's Education and Workforce Policy Director, Susan Traiman, answered questions in a live, online chat on Friday, April 7, about the current state-of-play and her recent trip to India.

The transcript from the chat can be viewed below.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 12:49:23 PM)
Welcome to today's chat. I'm Susan Traiman, Director of Education & Workforce Policy for Business Roundtable. We're leading the TAP campaign to make sure the U.S. has the talent needed to compete in the years ahead. I hope to get to all of your questions.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 12:58:36 PM)
By the way, to save time during the chat, I'm going to use the acronym "STEM," which stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

rose (Apr 7, 2006 1:00:51 PM)
Why is basic research part of the TAP campaign and what needs to be done about it?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:00:51 PM)
Basic research is one of the three prongs of the TAP campaign. It's important because basic research in the physical sciences and engineering is a critical building for U.S. innovation and its availability attracts top scientists to top U.S. universities to do this important work. There's also evidence that it also creates more incentives for undergraduates to major in STEM fields.

Joe (Apr 7, 2006 1:04:01 PM)
I find your Indian reports interesting however I find that the transfer of education and application to an American environment difficult for two reasons. Is there a way for American education with multicultural modes and 1000 times the economic advantage, even in the poorest population segments, 10,000 greater personal freedom, develop an educational system with anywhere near the same motivational levels? Second question - from my experience in both business and education I find that Asian educated workers at any level have great knowledge and ability to handle the subject matter but have a great deal of difficulty with creativity of adaptation to unlearned applications thus as problem solvers they are very poor. Is there a way to educate and allow for creativity in the Asian system?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:04:01 PM)
There are major differences between the U.S. and India, in our cultures, our economies and our education systems. So we're not talking about transferring their practices to the U.S. What we need to do is to look at other countries' results and figure out the appropriate American way to make sure our students can compete and succeed. On the second question, I certainly don't want to generalize about all Asians, but from my visits to China and India, it's clear that they are very aware that they need to improve their education systems to focus more on creativity and problem solving.

george (Apr 7, 2006 1:06:05 PM)
President Bush said he was going to increase funding for research in his State of the Union message. What has the administration done to accomplish that?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:06:05 PM)
The Administration's budget includes doubling funding for basic research in the physical sciences over the next ten years. Congress is now working on the budget. If you want to support this, visit www.tap2015.org, our campaign's website, and send a letter to your members of Congress.

Steve (Apr 7, 2006 1:08:23 PM)
Much of your India trip diary focuses on STEM, which is very important of course. I noticed little mention of literacy beyond the fact that Indian students are taught English. Are there other implications for the US considering many US students are reading below grade level?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:08:23 PM)
Literacy is the basic underpinning of learning in India and everywhere in the world. In the U.S., No Child Left Behind has provided resources focused on making sure all students can read by third grade. We continue to support that effort.

Justen (Apr 7, 2006 1:09:01 PM)
From the images I have seen, it seems that many Indian students encounter extreme poverty on a regular basis. I wonder if this contributes to a need for theses students to acquire degrees that will provide solid, financial benefits. It seems that international students are forced nto think about and prepare for their futures more aggressively than MAerican students. I also wonder if in a time where cell phones and ipods are almost becoming staple school supplies for young, American students, how can we showcase the nescessity of these types of degrees in the classroom? By what other means can we motivate American students?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:09:01 PM)
I have a similar question from Highlander.

HIghlander (Apr 7, 2006 1:11:25 PM)
What can teachers do to encourage math and science "phobic" children? In other words - how can children with an interest in science and technology be taught so they will not be discouraged from pursuing these fields of study?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:11:25 PM)
First of all, teachers themselves can't be math and science phobic. They have to have confidence in their own math and science skills and knowledge. We also need to bring scientists and engineers into the classroom so students see how exciting these subjects and careers are.

Robert (Apr 7, 2006 1:13:30 PM)
I thought business was only concerned with the bottom line. What's their interest in education?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:13:30 PM)
For business, education is part of our bottom line, because the quality of our workforce depends on the results of the education system. Businesses are also taxpayers and community members and our employees want to live and work in communities with good schools.

Howard (Apr 7, 2006 1:14:08 PM)
And, I would suggest, in addition to just bringing scientists and engineers into the classroom, to find ways to model the practices of a scientist and engineer in the classroom...

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:14:08 PM)
Totally agree.

molly (Apr 7, 2006 1:15:34 PM)
What are big companies doing in specific to support education and innovation?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:15:34 PM)
If you visit www.tap2015.org, you will see examples of what companies are doing. Go to "About the Campaign" and click on "What is the business community doing." In addition, companies are actively advocating for public policies that support a strong education system that leads to innovation.

Mia (Apr 7, 2006 1:16:54 PM)
I am worried about my neices' and nephews' futures. Will they have job opportunitites available to them upon completion of college if they don't have the necessary math and science skills?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:16:54 PM)
No one can predict precisely what job opportunities will be available when your nieces and nephews graduate. That's why they need a solid foundation in literacy, math, science and other core subjects. We believe math and science are fundamental to all future careers, not just for people who will be scientists and engineers.

Geek (Apr 7, 2006 1:19:26 PM)
What can the education community learn from the business community about making change?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:19:26 PM)
There are a lot of management principles that are applicable to any kind of organization, whether a company or school -- leadership development, employee involvement, data-driven decision making and a customer focus, among others. However, business faces competition and the possibility of going out of business, which keeps it nimble and focused on results.

george (Apr 7, 2006 1:21:30 PM)
What about children who aren't going to college? Are they condemned to a future of flipping burgers? Is something being done to upgrade their education so we can compete with other countries for well paying jobs?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:21:30 PM)
Not everyone needs to go to a four-year college to succeed, but analyses of jobs that provide family-supporting wages show that they require some education and training beyond a high school diploma. Many junior and community colleges also provide these skills.

molly (Apr 7, 2006 1:21:59 PM)
What are your thoughts on the President's American Competitiveness Initiative?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:21:59 PM)
It has widespread support in the business community. We believe it has focused increased attention on this issue.

Stan (Apr 7, 2006 1:24:53 PM)
Did you find any specific programs designed for women in India? I know in this country, many young girls avoid math and science. Are there any programs in place in thsi country that remedy that?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:24:53 PM)
I did see programs focused on young girls, not specifically in math and science, but to encourage underprivileged girls to stay in school. As far as in this country, definitely. Many universities have summer programs for middle school girls to give them a positive experience in math and science. You can find these examples on the Internet.

hank (Apr 7, 2006 1:28:25 PM)
I don't understand what the big worry is. We were warned in the 80s that Japan was going to leave us in the dust. Nothing happened there. China and India have a long way to go before they're going to be competition for us. They have serious income inequity problems as well as relatively poorly developed infrastructures. Is the sky really falling?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:28:25 PM)
You're right that the predictions about Japan didn't pan out. However, we feel there's solid evidence that we will have a problem now if we remain satisifed with the status quo in the U.S. You're also right about China and India's problems. But both of them are focused on educating their best and brightest students and by virtue of the size of their populations present a real competitive challenge to the U.S. China in particular is also investing in basic research and committed to developing world-class universities.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:30:52 PM)
We can't expect to get different results with the same education policies and practices we've always had. We probably do need longer days and years for some students and it would be foolish to opt out of competing in the cutting-edge fields that drive innovation.

Ken (Apr 7, 2006 1:34:13 PM)
Our society is "dumbing down" education. What incentives will the business community offer our youth to strive for success in the classroom? How will business deal with the powerful teachers unions?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:34:13 PM)
Actually, educators in the U.S. are working very hard to raise standards. We're committed to making sure that all students are prepared for further education and work when they graduate from high school. Teachers face a difficult challenge because our society often doesn't reinforce the importance of hard work and discipline. We believe teachers want the same success for our students.

Jay (Apr 7, 2006 1:36:03 PM)
There has been much recent debate regarding changes to immigration policies that affect undocumented immigrants. However, these has been little talk about changing policies to make it easier for well-educated, skilled knowledge workers to obtain work visas and establish permanent residency. Making it easier for these people to get into and stay working in the U.S. would ave two significant benefits: 1( it would be immediately accretive to the U.S. knowledge base (making it easier for companies to keep and grow jobs here), and 2) these people will likely be producing children, and well educated immigrants are generally very passionate about education and would therefore have high expectations from and involvement with their school systems. What proposals are out there to make it easier for smart people outside the U.S. to come live here permanently?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:36:03 PM)
It hasn't gotten a lot of news attention during the overall immigration debate this week, but we're working with members of Congress to address exactly the issue you've raised. Your points are excellent.

Concerned Parent (Apr 7, 2006 1:38:33 PM)
According to David Brook's inthe NYT, we are not falling behind in math and science education. Why are you folks saying we are?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:38:33 PM)
I have a very high regard for David Brooks but he's wrong on this one. People look at different data about the problem but it's very clear to business leaders that there isn't enough interest in STEM subjects among U.S. youth. We've avoided a crisis by drawing upon foreign sources of talent. We need to make sure that in addition to that talent we have more Americans prepared to succeed in STEM fields.

algr (Apr 7, 2006 1:40:15 PM)
Having more standardized tests are not a good measure of how 'educated' as a population we are. Teacher then only teach what is necessary for the test. that is one of the main reasons I disagree w. the current presidents approach to teaching. We aren't getting smarter...we are just better at taking tests.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:40:15 PM)
Tests are flawed but they're the best measure we have to compare results between states and countries. If assessments are aligned with curriculum, teachers just need to teach the curriculum and students will do well on the test.

augusten (Apr 7, 2006 1:41:58 PM)
What can I do to make sure my kids are getting a decent math and science background? I went to your Web site and saw the letter option but I want to do something more immediate and local now.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:41:58 PM)
Our website is focused on changing public policy. To get on-the-ground suggestions, you can visit websites that specialize in math and science education. Some are mentioned in the Resource Center of our website (www.tap2015.org) under "Related Links."

algr (Apr 7, 2006 1:43:16 PM)
what about providing addtional funding for children to go to college. As the disparity between rich and poor increase the funding for merit based grants is decreasing. How are these children goign to be able to afford the better education? Maybe there should be special grants for specific areas of study...ie STEM?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:43:16 PM)
Congress just approved several scholarship and loan forgiveness programs that focus on STEM. We'll be adding these links to the TAP website as soon as they're available.

Geek (Apr 7, 2006 1:45:52 PM)
What's the likelihood of Congress acting on the President's recommendations?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:45:52 PM)
It won't happen unless people back home let their members of Congress know how important this is. Congress will be on recess for the next two weeks; legislators will be home and need to hear from you.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:47:04 PM)
By the way, you can go to the Take Action center of www.tap2015.org to look up the addresses and phone numbers of your elected officials.

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:50:30 PM)
Back to your question, Justen, you're right that in other countries science and engineering careers are seen as a road to a better standard of living and that's part of their appeal. In addition to that argument in the U.S., we also need to excite our students' imaginations about the new innovations beyond cell phones and to let them know that they can actually play a part in that by entering these fields.

Geek (Apr 7, 2006 1:52:59 PM)
The reaction of Congress to the expansion of NCLB into high schools was lethargic, at best. Is there more interest in the competitiveness agenda?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:53:00 PM)
There's a lot of interest in the competitiveness agenda. It's also a very tight budget year. It's important that we all recognize that this will need to be a multi-year effort by Congress.

Jen (Apr 7, 2006 1:53:49 PM)
Aren't most education decisions made at the local level? What can the federal government do?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:53:49 PM)
Education in the U.S. is a state responsibility and a local function. However, the federal government plays a very important role in framing national issues and setting priorities for the country as a whole.

augusten (Apr 7, 2006 1:55:14 PM)
Whats your biggest concern?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:55:14 PM)
The biggest concern is that the U.S. will be too complacent and wait until the sky falls, when it will be too late. We need to take action now.

Adam (Apr 7, 2006 1:57:52 PM)
I received my degree from a university that was founded pursuant to congresssional legislation to provide higher education in the areas of mechanics and agriculture. I believe that thie legislation (the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890) gave America a leg up through the 20th century in its education of the technicians and engineers that led to America's technical superiority. Has TAP proposed any legislation of similar breadth or scope?

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:57:52 PM)
You can take a look at the side-by-side comparison of legislation in the House and Senate that's been introduced to date -- available on our TAP home page (www.tap2015.org).

Susan Traiman (Apr 7, 2006 1:59:52 PM)
Thank you all for participating. I'm sorry we couldn't get to all of your questions but we hope to continue this conversation in the future. In the meantime, to keep up-to-date on our campaign please visit www.tap2015.org. A transcript of today's chat will be posted there.