We regularly read about the threat of the U.S. losings its status as the #1 economy to China. That could very well happen. However, the real threat that should concern us is more fundamental--China is laying the foundation for long-term dominance in science and technology. Consider these:
1. In 1994, China's secondary school enrollment rate was 48%. Now it's 76%.
2. In 1995, China was 14th in the word in publication of science and engineering papers. Now it is 2nd.
3. This year China is expected to overtake the U.S. in number of patent applications.
4. Test scores for 15-year-olds in Shanghai far exceed those in the U.S. in reading (556 vs. 500) and math (600 vs. 487).
China's combination of size, targeted investment and performance culture make our second-place status not only inevitable, but imminent. If we can't restore interest in the sciences and reform our educational system, then the gap will only get larger and, ultimately, impassable.
I watched this really interesting T.E.D. talk on a new way to approach education. Salman Khan created the Khan Academy, you should check it out. It has sparked conversation between my roommates and I about how flawed our educational system is and our need for educational reform. The way we run things right now is not very productive, and we are not utilizing technology very well in our classrooms. It kind of makes me want to be a teacher... if only I could tolerate multitudes of children :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm very familiar with the Khan Academy. It's a cool site. And his TED talk has been on my list to watch. The other day I read about a school that is completely open. There are learning centers (mostly PC's) set up everywhere and kids can pick and choose what they go to learn about. There's definitely something to that principle, as long as, say, "pop culture" isn't one of the options. (I recall the elective choices of a certain daughter of mine in high school.)
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