Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization

A quick read that clearly spells out that both political parties and corporations are determined to make our educational system as dysfunctional as possible.Strongly recommended for anyone interested in the education issues facing our voters. Certain sections of the book would be of special interest to home schoolers or parents who want to know what they might be well advised to teach their children after school, on weekends, or during the summer.Zhao clearly spells out the inescapable conclusions of the approach to "education", normally referred as indoctrination, that is being imposed upon children by the oligarchy controlling our nation.From the preface:"An innovation-driven society is driven by innovative people. Innovative people cannot come from schools that force students to memorize correct answers on standardized tests or reward students who excel at regurgitating dictated spoon-fed knowledge."Zhao then goes on to show how our leaders instill fear into voters to get them to go along with programs that are designed to ensure the failure of students, our economy and our nation.This is a good, and as I said earlier, quick read. Personally When I read this book I was disappointed that Zhao did not propose specific ways voters could act to correct the damage being forced upon their children by the oligarchy, nor did he make, in my opinion, a convincing argument that in the new age of globalization there is a specific way that, since creativity is not limited to our citizens, the United States will ever be able to compete internationally for high paying jobs - even if the current plan to control our children's thinking fails.Zhao in his recent book  World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students  has provided much new information as to why we must, as a country, rid ourselves of "education reform" as well as what those that want to help change the direction could do about it.After reading the new book I was very much encouraged. The missing link, which is not Zhao's responsibility, is how to find the money to fund those who want to learn how to turn things around and then lead the change in course.I encourage all to buy the new book!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know the United States' test scores have been slipping far down the list of developed (and undeveloped) nations in the world. In this book, Yong Zhao analyzes this topic using China and the United States as comparison countries.The book begins a little slow, discussing the history of the US education system from the cold war onward. Educators who are familiar with the history of NDEA, a nation at risk, and No child Left Behind may not find much use for this chapter. The author uses the often exaggerated "missile gap" between the US and the Soviet Union, and politicians capitalization on the fear it created, as an analogy for the perceived "education gap" between the US and other world powers.The book questions whether international test scores should be used as a measure of educational attainment. It discusses the strengths of the US education system (creative development, individualization for each students needs) and the weakness' of the Chinese system (focus on test scores at the detriment of all other subjects) and deconstructs the myth that every year the US if falling further behind in regards to education.The most compelling message I took from the book was that the US, particularly since the implementation of NCLB and its emphasis on standardized testing, is moving towards the system that Chinese educators are moving away from. The author argues that in many ways China is trying to model itself after the US system; while the US is throwing away the very system that the Chinese want to adopt.Overall it was a well written book that takes a different perspective on a hot topic being discussed in education circles right now. I would recommend this book for any teacher working in the field or in educational policy making. In fact, I have passed it along to many of my friends who are finding it an interesting look at how the US should walk through the minefield of educational reform.

I am not a professional educator (although I have a master's degree in teaching, my undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems), I am a computer network administrator who happens to teach that subject to both high school and adults. I firmly believe in The American Way, capitalism, and American Exceptionalism. I am very suspicious of most "education" books because too many have the wrong perspective. Our teacher education system has for too long bowed at the alter of Multiculturalism, Diversity, and blaming America for the world's problems. The book was a mix of American Exceptionalism and Multicultural Diversity (with a bit of global warming thrown in for good measure). I figure the author knew his target audience, American teachers, so the book was very much geared toward them. So if you are a firm believer in that philosophy you will be pleased. What may make you angry though is the proof that our system, the American system, is not broken (as evidenced by the erroneous belief in the so-called Education Gap between us and China/Europe). Even as far back as 1964 we tested behind many other countries in Math/Science/Reading. There are numerous reasons why our system has produced some of the most creative genius our world has ever seen, I won't list them here, that is the job of the book. I will say that the author is in strong disagreement with our current trend of nationalization of our education system with narrow focus on proof of success by looking at test scores. And that is where I strongly agree with the author. Unfortunately, we are quickly becoming a nation with students who know how to take a test, but are losing their individuality and creativity in the process. It's that individuality and creativity that has been the cornerstone of our system, and should remain intact.

Great book for undergraduate studying education