"Reading Balancing Change and Tradition in Global Education Reform is like being on on interesting, sixteen-stop world study tour...By identifying the themes that weave throughout the chapters, Iris C. Rotberg helps the reader make sense of this worldwide intellectual journey, Rotberg does more than identify the themes; she illuminates them by constantly referencing the most essential points made by the individual contributors. What results is a theme, example, example, theme, example, example rhythm that provides readers with a thoughtful, manageable, and memorable conceptual framework that should enable them to draw upon the work in their own professional activities."- Ron Byrnes, Teachers College Record"For every teaching and learning issue that divides this country, this hook shows that several other countries are having the same argument. For every cry of despair at the assorted failures of American schools, Rotberg introduces a host of nations-including some that American critics admire-who are hearing the same complaints about their education systems from their own experts."-Jay Mathews, The Washington PostThis book goes beyond myths and stereotypes and describes the difficult trade-offs countries make as they attempt to implement reforms in the context of societal and global change. In some countries, reforms ore a response to major political or economic shifts; in others, they are motivated by large upsurges in immigration rind increased student diversity. All countries face decisions about resource allocation, equality of educational opportunity or mss diverse populations, access to higher education, student testing and tracking, teacher accountability, school choice, and innovationThe essays in this volume reveal:the policy choices about the school reforms made by countries throughout the world,the consequences associated with these choices, andthe role that societal values, historical antecedents, and political structures play in facilitating or constraining reform Read Less