Replies

He said Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained - and often illiterate - workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.

It didn't take NAFTA to kill American manufacturing. "Ameruhkan skools" were more than up to that task.

Next question: Why is Asia set to run rings around America's tech sector? Because while little Johnny is flunking out of geometry in favor of being the first-string quarterback on the varsity team, the Li kid in Beijing is doing calculus with an abacus. Before long it won't be worth it for anyone to attempt to steal our technology. But we'll have a helluva NFL!

I concur completely with your analysis of the educational calamity brought upon America by its failure to address the core issues attendant thereto.

We are receiving our just desserts, it seems to me.

"In Alabama, trainers had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment."

Much as I'm inclined to agree on the publik skools issue, I'm not sure this is Alabama's problem.

Lots of industries use 'pictorials' as training and assembly guides...and lots do not.

It can really get fun when you go into a place where the average worker [or engineer] is up on one, and the other seems to drive 'em nuts.

Where this story really gets frustrating is that all those 'highly qualified' and 'highly educated' workers got that way building parts for American cars.