Data hound lays out case against the most commonly cited international higher education comparisons, which typically cite annual reports on where the world stands on rankings on college grads.
From: www.msnbc.msn.com
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NBC News correspondents and producers across the U.S. shed light on the news of the day.
The United States spends more money than any other country, and its elite institutions are the world's best. But overall the system is wasteful, fails too many — and is falling behind other countries.
The latest stinging report came last week from a state colleges group arguing the United States isn't producing enough college graduates, especially in science. Similar gloominess emanates from business groups and even the Obama administration, whose top education goals include again leading the world in proportion of college graduates.
A few contrarian experts say no. The most vocal is Cliff Adelman, a sharp-tongued data hound who after a long and influential career in government now works at the independent Institute for Higher Education Policy, where he feels freer to rock the boat.