Blog Post #4 Chinese Education Puts America to the Test

Krystal Benson

September 22, 2011


Recently, our Country's National Teacher of the Year, Michelle Shearer had the opportunity to travel to China to study their education system. During her travels, she discovered what a lot of people already feel to be true, that Chinese students have been more successful than American Students in many aspects of education. While American students can take academic and elective courses, Chinese students focus mainly on testing. “The most recent international standardized test, the PISA- ranked Chinese students first in reading, science and math.” (Pham) Therefore, the United States, although always seen as superior, is slowly but surely losing their spot as the world leader of education. When in China, Shearer recognized how she related to the teachers in their desire of success for their students. According to the U.S Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, jobs are being outsourced to countries that are producing the knowledge workers that can succeed in the global competitive economy.

Whenever we talk about education within the United States, there is always a sense of inequality. In education, whites are often looked at as being the superior while blacks (people of color) are looked at as inferior. Like we discussed in class today, race and ethnicity seem to play a major role in the resources you receive while in school. Therefore, there is a gap that has occurred in terms of education and it is not only affecting us locally, but globally as well.

I find it very interesting and accurate how the article talks about the United States falling short academically to international students. I am a BUS 105 PAL to international students this semester, and I have met quite a bit of students from China. By the way they act in class and the work they produce, I see how American students, white and black, are falling behind. When they turn it work, they do what is asked, and they are always willing to find ways to be better. They have an amazing work ethic. Hearing the things that they have experienced when in High School and other forms of Higher Level Education, I know that Americans need to get it together academically. There no longer needs to be unequal treatment in education due to race, ethnicity, or income. If we as a country want to remain on top, we need to come together soon, or we will surely be left behind.








http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/chinese-education-puts-america-to-the-test/