In his book, The World Is Flat, author Thomas L. Friedman makes a lot of very insightful observations about how much things are changing as China, India and many of the former Soviet Union countries begin to take advantage of what modern technologies like broadband, the World Wide Web, and faster computers have made available to them. I'm really enjoying the experience of seeing the world through his eyes, all thanks to Tammy's recommendation (and loan of her copy).
Today, for example, I read a section dealing with how American (and Canadian) education isn't preparing the next generations for competing in this new climate. Of particular interest to me were comments he received from a 5th grade teacher, after the first edition of the book came out, on the topic of the role parents have been playing in this. The letter-writer first described how an Indian-born pair of parents asked him to challenge their child more, and a woman of Easter European descent wanted to know why more intensive homework hadn't been coming home with her son. Then he compared that to his typical experience with more traditional American parents:
"Sadly, many... white, American, middle class parents [told me] that the 5th grade work was too hard on their kids. They couldn't possibly complete it and have time to 'be a kid.' Soccer, gymnastics, [music] lessons and dinner out squeezed their education time. Some parents would ask for my colleagues and I to lighten the load. These worrisome parents merely set low expectations for children by running interference; the scary parents... think everything is great and never demand more. If their kids do OK and have fun, then they must be getting a great education."
He sums up another failing we have here quite succinctly, describing how technology giants like Microsoft's founder are treated like rock stars in Asia:
"In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears - and that is our problem."
It's a great read, if you're interested in works that speculate about the future and where we may - or may not! - fit into it.
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