Last month, the Asia Society published the report, “Math and Science Education in a Global Age: What the U.S. Can Learn from China.” It notes that China educates 20 per cent of the world’s students with 2 per cent of the world’s education resources. And the report finds many potential lessons in China’s rigorous math and science programs, says Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times.
Yet, there isn’t any magic to it:
According to Kristof, American students can not replicate their Chinese counterparts’ drive even if they wanted to, but there are lessons Americans can learn – like the need to shorten summer vacations and to put far more emphasis on math and science.
During the Qing Dynasty that ended in 1912, China was slow to learn lessons from abroad and adjust its curriculum, and it paid the price in its inability to compete with Western powers. These days, the tables are turned, and now we need to learn from China, says Kristof.
Source: Nicholas D. Kristof, Chinese Medicine for American Schools, New York Times, June 27, 2006; and Math and Science Education in a Global Age: What the U.S. Can Learn from China, Asia Society, May 2006.
For text (subscription required): http://select.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/opinion/27Kristof.html
For report text: http://www.internationaled.org/mathsciencereport.pdf
For more on Education: http://www.ncpa.org/iss/edu/
FMF Policy Bulletin/ 04 July 2006
