Nicholas D. Kristof: China's Winning Schools

An international study about student performance in math, science and reading placed in top four countries. Only one of them was non-Confucian: Finland. The other three were China, Hong Kong and Singapore. As for US, 15th in reading, 23rd in science and 31st in math. Well, someone has to be the 15th, isn't it? You cannot have all countries to be the 1st.

Says Nicholas D. Kristof in today's NY Times, Americans think of China’s strategic challenge in terms of the new stealth fighter aircraft, while the real challenge is the rise of China’s education system and the passion for learning that underlies it; we’re not going to become Confucians, but we can elevate education on our list of priorities without relinquishing creativity and independent thought.

Read more in:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/opinion/16kristof.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

(Zoon Politikon)