The Global Achievement Gap: Why Our Kids Dont Have the Skills They Need for College, Careers, and Citizenship and What We Ca

Despite the best efforts of educators, our nations schools are dangerously obsolete. Instead of teaching students to be critical thinkers and problemsolvers, we are asking them to memorize facts for multiple choice tests. This problem isnt limited to lowincome school districts: even our top schools arent teaching or testing the skills that matter most in the global knowledge economy. Our teens leave school equipped to work only in the kinds of jobs that are fast disappearing from the American economy. Meanwhile, young adults in India and China are competing with our students for the most soughtafter careers around the world.Education expert Tony Wagner has conducted scores of interviews with business leaders and observed hundreds of classes in some of the nations most highly regarded public schools. He discovered a profound disconnect between what potential employers are looking for in young people today (critical thinking skills, creativity, and effective communication) and what our schools are providing (passive learning environments and uninspired lesson plans that focus on test preparation and reward memorization).He explains how every American can work to overhaul our education system, and he shows us examples of dramatically different schools that teach all students new skills. In addition, through interviews with college graduates and people who work with them, Wagner discovers how teachers, parents, and employers can motivate the &net; generation to excellence.An education manifesto for the twentyfirst century, The Global Achievement Gap is provocative and inspiring. It is essential reading for parents, educators, business leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in seeing our young people succeed as employees and citizens.For additional information about the author and the book, please go to www.schoolchange.org