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Video: No Child Left Behind and Global Competitiveness

7 August 2009 3,319 views 11 Comments

Ed Week Post about this video: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2009/08/michigan_scholar_questions_com.html

Will more standards, accountability, and higher test scores make American students more globally competitive? In the video, Yong Zhao retells his personal story and questions the wisdom of current US education policy. He argues that global competitiveness comes from a diversity of talents and recognition of individual passions and creativity. This is part of a film series produced by the Mobile Learning Institute’s called “A 21st Century Education”

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11 Comments »

  • Lorene Taylor said:

    Thank you for sharing your story Yong Zhao.
    You gave a great history lesson and helped to solve the problem of how to get us out an education system based on test scores.
    But more importantly, you showed a way out of the current system and show the perfect alternative.
    I agree with all you said 100%!

  • Linda Sexton said:

    Mr. Zhao,

    What a refreshing way of looking at the world, and education’s place in it! Will you please come to Oklahoma and convince our legislators that children and youth are not automatons? You have the same philosophy that I, a board of education member, have: If the gifted musician or painter has to master higher math, why does not the gifted mathematician have to become expert on the trumpet?

    After you change the attitudes of Oklahoma legislators, please go on the Washington D.C.!

  • Linda Sexton said:

    That was supposed to say ON to Washington D. C.

  • Tim Legore said:

    Thank you or saying what needed to be said. I will always be a fan of high school sports,but the music department is just as important. Everybody is not giong to be great chemist or mathemiticians, so why force them. you should not limit your scope to just math and science. Sooner or later the banker will need a mechanic to repair his car.

  • Dan Maas said:

    It would be interesting to see a blog post from Dr. Zhao about Thomas Friedman blaming education for the financial collapse: http://tinyurl.com/ygg2qbg

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  • Jesse Turner said:

    Thank you Dr. Zhao for sharing your thoughts on the standardization of American schools. It is indeed sad to think the nation that placed a man on the moon, and has led the world in creativity and innovation for over a century is ready to follow the rest rather than lead the world in Education. Our children are so much more than a test score.
    Sincerely,
    Jesse P. Turner
    Director of the Central Connecticut State University Literacy Center

  • Yvonne Siu-Runyan said:

    Yong Zhao, you make a lot of sense.

  • Matt Seely said:

    For an elementary principal trying to cope in the midst of our “dangerously irrelevant” system your observations are a breath of fresh air!! Our cultural fixation on the ‘hard’ subjects (and sports) and our governments obsession with standards and statistics are driving our education systems into the realm of ridiculousness and irrelevancy!

  • kathy Lewis said:

    Dr. Yong Zhao is totally on target! How can we get out leaders to comprehend his sane logic? Thank You Dr. Zhao for creating this video!

  • Michele Worden said:

    I think Dr. Zhao does not get it. I will not comment on how well No Child Left Behind has been implemented, because I suspect that is has not been done very well.

    I will say that what my background in engineering, science, business and art and design have taught me that “structure sets you free”. Education begins with tests, not ends there.

    Tests are important because everyone needs a minimum level of knowledge to be a functioning adult and good citizen. But a good basic foundation of academic knowledge does not prevent you from learning more on any topic that interests you, does not impose “reason” upon you, and doesn’t prevent you from charting your own course in life. However, illiteracy, ignorance of history, and inability to balance your checkbook does.

    I say this having worked for 11 years as a chemical engineer in capital projects and product development, 3 years as a management consultant in high tech product development, a lifetime as an artist in many mediums and a mother of two. I also credit my success to a Montessori education.

    People commonly say that an idea is bad when in reality the idea may be good but the implementation of an idea may be flawed. Creating processes and implementations that work is why good consultants make so much money.

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