I mentioned in the last post a strand of education reform which relies upon the threat of “global competitiveness” in the 21st century. They are moved by international comparisons that purport the the United States is losing ground in the global economy and their viewpoint is carried to Washington by some well-heeled and very powerful individuals. Bill Gates would likely be at the top of this heap and has testified in Congress to promote the significance of this component of the “crisis”. There is no question that interest in math and science careers has waned in the last several decades and that India and China have clearly stepped into the breech. When we get back to a substantive discussion of how to actually make lemonade out of perhaps the biggest education policy lemon to emanate from Washington, this topic will be included.

I thought it might be useful to point to the message being put forthby the advocates of this position:

Ed in 08 is the campaign being funded in large measure by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to ensure that education is a major issue in the presidential campaign. The following is a PSA (Public Service Announcement) which succinctly lays out their position.

“Two Million Minutes” is a documentary film produced under the auspices of Bob Compton, an entrepeneuer and venture capitalist who personally investigated high school education in India and China and compares it with high school here in the United States. The film which has had a limited release has been adopted by ED in 08 as being consistent with their message.

The message is further reinforced at the Two Million Minutes website. I have not seen the film, but from detailed descriptions and reviews, it compares six upper middle class students here and in China and Japan.

Ironically, tonight (9pm EST) HBO will premiere a new two hour high school documentary, “Hard Times at Douglas High”, a cinema verite-style look at a traditionally all-black inner city high school in Baltimore.

Much to talk about.