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Sputnik Launched
10-4-1957
Russia wins the Space Race and unintentionally convinces the U.S. that we need to put more effort into educating our gifted students so that we can get back in the race. Sources: http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/
Handbook of Gifted Education, p. 7
There seems to be a parallel between international events and American educational funding. Just as more funding was a reaction to Sputnik, more funding via Race to the Top is a response to negative press about American students underachieving as compared to international students.
I wish I believed it was untrue that other countries are educating their youth better than the U.S., but when I think about raising our kids with a complete focus on school, I wonder if most American parents would choose that. I think we want our kids to be well-rounded and to have time to be kids.