Author Jonathan Kozol criticizes global competitiveness as an educational goal in the 21st century. Read his and our news editor's opinions, and add a comment to tell us what you think.

Reviewers are widely remarking on Jonathan Kozol's combination of wisdom and naiveté in his book, Letters to Young Teacher. Most pertinent to a web site devoted to 21st century learning is his attack on the mantra of global competitiveness.

Salon.com asked, "So you take issue with the argument that children need to be prepared for the realities of the marketplace. But isn't that what they will face?" Kozol responded:

"Yes, children do have to be prepared for the economic world -- but the invasion of the public schools by mercantile values has deeply demoralized teachers. I've been in classrooms where the teacher has to write a so-called mission statement that says, "The mission of this school is to sharpen the competitive edge of America in the global marketplace."

Francesca once said to me, "I'm damned if I'm going to" -- I don't think she said "damned," because she's too polite; maybe "darned" -- "treat these little babies as commodities or products. Why should they care about global markets? They care about bellybuttons, and wobbly teeth, and beautiful books about caterpillars." I think we have to protect those qualities.

In a Washington Post book review, Ben Wildavsky finds Kozol's position extreme. He writes,

Kozol seems really to believe that efforts to ensure that students can read and do math, using uniform standards, measured by tests that can be compared from classroom to classroom and school to school, are evidence of corporate repression. Sure, those efforts aren't always well conceived or thoughtfully implemented. But, at least in principle, couldn't the ability to be academically self-sufficient instead be viewed as a path to personal liberation.

Kozol, critical of testing mandates and supportive of "pleasant subversiveness" and irreverence, tells "a battle is beginning for the soul of education." Certainly, it is worth noting that "global competitiveness" is not an appealing goal for all. Indeed, it can sound like fear-driven spin that many have learned to distrust. Would we better off with new language? Perhaps global contributors...participants.....citizens?

The arriving economy is not likely to be the red, white and blue team against the rest of the world. Individuals will be innovating and teaming across the globe for their own business ventures. Personal talent will find its way in a very big fish pond.

Your turn: Does the term "global competitiveness" help us move students to this future? Does it inspire you?

By Mary Axelson, News Editor

Source: Salon.com, Teachers: Be Subversive

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