Emens distinguished professor to talk about US education system

Through a reform of the U.S. education system, money could be saved and institutions could be improved. This is Andreas Schleicher's idea, which will be discussed at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Center's Assembly Hall.

Schleider, a senior education official for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, will talk about how the U.S. education system could improve in his presentation, "Is the Sky the Limit to Educational Improvement — Lessons from the World on Successful Education Systems."

Looking at this problem, Schleicher mainly focuses on how education in a country stacks up to education in other countries.

Sophomore social stuides major Zack Arnett plans on attending the presentation tonight.

"I like how he focuses on the importance of good teachers and doesn't put too much emphasis on things like standardized testing," Arnett said.

Hoping to become a teacher himself, Arnett said he hoped to see many of Schleicher's ideas added to America's education policy.

Schleicher received the Emens Distinguished Professor Award for 2009-10. The Teachers College granted the award to him after faculty members saw him around six months ago at a professional conference.

Laurie Mullen, associate dean of the Teachers College, said she believed Schleicher will bring fresh ideas that are ahead of many educators at U.S. institutions.

"He advocates a direction quite different from the direction we [the United States] are currently taking," she said.

Mullen said she encourages Ball State students to attend the event.

"It's not just for education students, but for students of business, economics, languages, political science," she said. "Education matters to all of us."