In The News

Why Parents Are Often the Biggest Obstacle to Achievement

Paul Phillips June 6, 2016
Education is a long route to prosperity. Parents who view children as a resource that can contribute to a family farm, business or retirement often dissuade children from pursuing full education opportunities. “Because they equate education with loss,” writes Paul Phillips, principal and chief executive of Weston College. “That is to say, if a person gets an education they will leave and never...

Official Religious Orthodoxy Driving Malaysia to Extremes

The Asia Sentinel, June 2, 2016
Malaysia has been credited for moderation and quick response on any connected with the Islamic State or Al Qaeda, “Yet even some Islamic scholars are now accusing the government itself of fostering extremism through official actions,” notes the Asia Sentinel. Malaysia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but Islam is the nation’s official religion. Salafist preachers dispatched and...

Pisa Tests to Include “Global Skills” and Cultural Awareness

Andreas Schleicher June 1, 2016
Cross-border transactions – knowing how to deal with people of other cultures in equitable, sustainable ways – contribute to prosperity and security. The Pisa tests from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development may add global skills to the tests in math, reading and science by 2018. Education can help “children develop a reliable compass, the navigation skills and the character...

Battle Lines Against American Tech Giants

Farhad Manjoo June 1, 2016
Technology, including smartphones controlled by US companies Apple and Google, allow instant global connections that thwart efforts in nations like France to protect film, music and other industries. Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft also develop tech products indispensable for businesses worldwide. The global reach of such companies is prompting local backlash and fragmentation. “European...

No Handshake Exemption for Muslim Students, Swiss Canton Rules

May 26, 2016
Schools are the battleground for culture wars. A tradition in Switzerland – shaking a teacher’s hand as a sign of respect – has attracted global attention because of the conflict between gender equality and religious belief. Parents or guardians of students who refuse to shake a teacher’s hand can face fines of up to 5000 Swiss francs. The local school had tried to grant two boys, ages 14 and 15...

An Alternative to Boycotts or Divestment for Israel

Ian Shapiro and Nicholas Strong May 26, 2016
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault invited international leaders to Paris on May 30 to make plans for reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Peace and economic security go hand in hand. Israel is thriving despite boycotts by some European countries while the economic outlook is dismal for Gaza and the West Bank. “There is little evidence that boycotting Israel will have a...

Global Migration? Actually, The World Is Staying Home

Guido Mingels May 24, 2016
Despite news about waves of refugees fleeing conflict and poverty, the number of people on the move has held fairly steady for the past five decades. Less than 1 percent of the world’s population of 7.3 billion has migrated for any reason during the last five years. The Wittgenstein Center for Demography in Vienna delves into United Nations statistics and offers surprising findings. For example,...