USA Lacks Global Experts

08/09/2002

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"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." —Carl Jung

USA LACKS GLOBAL EXPERTS

According to a story in the June 2002 issue of Work & Family Newsbrief (www.workfamily.com), the American Council of Education has asked schools to teach a wider array of languages, and to start as early as kindergarten, in order to better prepare students for the new global economy. Waiting until students are in college to begin teaching a wide diversity of foreign languages is waiting too long, says the group that represents the nation's colleges and universities. That practice, they say, has led to a 'dangerous' shortage of US personnel with global skills expert in non-European cultures and languages. If we don't make the changes, they suggest, the USA could face 'serious costs' that include foreign policy failures, military blunders, terrorism, and a decline of competitiveness in the global marketplace. 'Our future success or failure in international endeavors,' the Council charges, 'will rely almost entirely on the global competence of our people.'

A great introduction to the global marketplace is the World Forum on Early Care and Education. The 2003 World Forum will take place, May 13 - 16, 2003 in Acapulco, Mexico. For complete details, go to www.ChildCareExchange.com.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.