Blog 1, The Global Search for Education

There are many ways in which people are trying to create an educational reform. The article that I read was titled The Global Search for Education: What is the Fourth Way? written by C. M. Rubin.  According to the article, the fourth way is a vision that is going to bring about and advocate for an effective educational reform. The previous first, second and third ways were ways in which the United States has changed their education system.  Coming up with ways to ensure that there are better schools and school systems is challenging.  Although it is considered challenging, Professor Andy Hargreaves and Professor Dennis Shirley, believe that they have found solutions after examining educational changes around the world for three decades that have occurred in leading education systems. By examining these changes and having research evidence, they have developed a plan for the future of schools.  

Both of these professors examined both schools here in the United States and schools globally. When they examined schools globally they used their information to compare it with how schools are here in the United States. This article shows how the role of a principal in other countries such as Canada, Finland and Singapore are different from the role of a principal here in the United States.  In those countries, principals are usually selected and promoted within in their own schools and this allows them to have proven success and know the school very well. Also, the principals spend a lot of time with the teachers and inside the classrooms with the students. One principal in Finland said that they spend more time doing that than writing evaluations and so forth, whereas principals here in the United States have to worry about doing evaluations for teachers and things of that nature and spend less time being with the teacher and students in the classroom. Teachers are also given room to come up with things of their own outside of the official curriculum and are able to use it and share with other teachers.  

These professors that have studied these other school systems feel as though the United States can use what other schools are doing globally and create better school systems here.  I felt as though this article gave insight into what other school systems around the world are doing to ensure better education for their students. It allows professionals in the United States’ education system to be able to critique and compare and find out what they can do to ensure that our students here in America are getting the best out of their education. I felt as thought this was a useful and beneficial article to read. This article and professors suggest that if we use some of the ways of other countries and provide our students with a common vision for success and high quality of teachers and leaders then we will be able to see an improvement in our schools.   

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_59_b_2564140.html 

 Jennifer Aiken

1/28/2013 5:05 pm