The idea that the nation may not be experiencing a crisis of STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) has emerged. Since federal aid, university and industry hopes, and students’ education plans all depend on the opposing idea—that there is a crisis—the debate is going to be a heated one.

The Pope Center first aired this revolutionary idea two years ago, and this week George Leef discusses the latest findings, especially Michael Teitelbaum’s book Falling Behind? Boom, Bust, and the Global Race for Scientific Talent. Leef writes:

Far from “falling behind,” Teitelbaum shows that the U.S. has a glut of people with STEM education. After surveying the best research, he states that America “produces far more science and engineering graduates annually than there are S&E job openings—the only disagreement is whether it is 100 percent or 200 percent more.”

But this goes up against a great deal of conventional wisdom. One educator has already labeled Leef’s anti-crisis viewpoint “rubbish.”

It’s time for genuine debate on this issue.