Final answer:
Some statements about the U.S. educational system are false, such as the assumption that there is an overproduction of engineers and that wages in manufacturing are low due to an excess of skilled workers. However, the quality of education and the production of qualified workers can be viewed differently across various industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following is TRUE about the U.S. educational system:
- a: True. U.S. schools are graduating more engineers than can be used in the economy: False. While there have been concerns about specific areas of the economy, the overall demand for engineers continues across multiple industries.
- b: U.S. students outperform students in other, directly-competitive nations in math and science: False. International assessments show that U.S. students often lag behind their peers in other industrialized nations.
- c: Wages are low in the U.S. manufacturing sector because of the excess number of people with manufacturing skills seeking jobs: False. Wages in the manufacturing sector are influenced by several factors, not just the number of skilled workers.
- d: The U.S. education system is not generating the types of qualified workers needed in the economy: True/False. This statement can be considered true or false depending on the industry, but overall, the education system does produce a significant number of qualified professionals.
Regarding educational spending, it is higher at the state level compared to the federal level. Moreover, education quality in the U.S. has been challenged by disparities in resource distribution and a lower proportion of resilient students compared to other top-ranking countries.