The Best Teachers in the World

Since the 1980s the United States has aimed to become the highest achieving nation in the world, aspiring to produce students who can compete with any on the planet. But for all the talk among political leaders about being first in the world in math and science or having the best schools and highest achievement in the world, there is little talk about having the best teachers. Yet research increasingly indicates that that is exactly what top achievement requires. If the United States wants the best achievement in the world, it will need to seek out, train, and retain the best teachers in the world. Doing so will require accepting reforms much bolder than public education has been willing to accept so far.