American kids are lazy and distracted?

There are real fears that America as a country has lost its touch, and the American as a people have become less competitive and too dependent on government largesee.

We don't really know if that's true. But there is that fear. In this new survey about American Dream, the middle class is in general still optimistic about the future and the access to opportunities. What's shocking to me though, is this:

Nearly half (49%) thought that countries like China and India are so far ahead of America that the United States won’t be able to catch up.

I think that's largely a reflection of economic growth rates. I doubt this impression is created by comparing per capita consumption or production.

What about the next generation and education?

Here it is very interesting to note a discussion by the CEO of the privately held SAS Institute:

His discussion about education in America was the most disconcerting. American students are not entering the fields of science, engineering, statistics, and math. These are the areas that would help America grow, invent and discover. He thinks American kids are too distracted by Twitter, Facebook, the Internet, Playstation, TV, iPhones, iPads and cell phones to do the hard work that is required in these fields. We have become a lazy distracted society. Our best colleges are educating foreign students who take that knowledge to their own countries.

There is a lot of truth in this observation. But this type of distraction has always been there, although the new technology has made it more pervaisive and compelling.

I remember growing up in China back in the late 70s and early 80s, the biggest distraction from school work was Kungfu novels and movies. Kids could spend all day reading and watching them for entertainment and excitment. The way to deal with the distraction is the same: keep a great distance and have great control over time. It's a struggle, as it has always been.

How do kids spend their time is an investment problem. Ideally we want them entertained, but we also want them to focus more on the production side rather than the consumption side.

When watching video games, for instance, I would like my kids to think about how to make these games instead of just playing them. I believe it makes a crucial difference.