Johnny and Suzy Better Get Cracking

This is the 21st in a collection of newspaper ads written by Harry Gray, then CEO of United Technologies, that appeared in the Wall Street Journal from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. Here is the text from that ad.

A University of Chicago
study shows
Russian high school
students are
ten times
better educated
in math and science
than
American students.
While Ivan and Olga
are waltzing
through advanced calculus,
Johnny and Suzy are
still stumbling over
fractions.
It’s disgraceful that at
a time so crucial to our
nation, many of our
students
aren’t even learning
the basics.
There is something
you can do
right now.
Work with your youngsters
tonight and every night.
Make sure they are learning,
and know the importance
of learning.
If your children are getting
a poor education,
don’t blame someone else.
Proper education
is the responsibility
of the parent.
They’re not
the school’s kids.
They’re yours.

Since I am writing this from the E.R. I am unable to do any additional research on this.

When I am able to do so, I plan to check how the U.S ranked in math and science in 1980 and compare those rankings to today.

My guess is that our ranking has gotten worse in the past 35 years.

As to where the blame may be, I am sure there are many factors that have contributed to the problem.

I will suggest one possible way to improve the situation – cut back on military spending and support education instead.