Chapter+9

Title Catching Up or Keeping the Lead Statement for Zhao: Two paths lie in front of us: one which we destory our strenghts in order to catch up with others on test scores and one in which we build our strengths so we can keep the lead in innovation and creativity. Instead of instilling fear in the American public about the rise of other countries, bureaucratizing education with bean-counting policies,demoralizing educators through dubious accountability measures, homogenizing school curriculum, and turning children in to test takers, we should inform the public about the possibilites brought about by globalization, encourage education innovations, inspire educators with genuine support, diversify and decentralize curriculum, and educate children as confident, unique, and well rounded human beings Young Zhao