Advice from a Knight

Interesting article published in the NY Times today about Sir Michael Barber, a senior education adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1997 through 2005. Now a partner at McKinsey & Company, he has been advising education policymakers, including the Ohio State Board of Education. Barber believes that the key to successful education systems is teacher recruitment and training. He makes several interesting comparisons between the U.S. and the "four systems that deserve to be called great," not to mention some commentary on the challenges to successful reform inherent in the American political system. Overall, a worthwhile read.

(FYI, the four "great" systems- Finland, Singapore, South Korea and Alberta, Canada.)