The Post-American World

• "Only three countries in the world don't use the metric system—Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States."
• "Half of all Silicon Valley start-ups have one founder who is an immigrant or first generation American... If these people are allowed and encouraged to stay, then innovation will happen here. If they leave, they'll take it with them."
• "It is an accident of history that for the last several centuries, the richest countries in the world have all been very small in terms of population. The United States is the biggest of the bunch and has dominated the advanced industrial world. But the real giants—China, India, Brazil—have been sleeping, unable or unwilling to join the world of functioning economies. Now they are on the move..."
• "Generations from now, when historians write about these times, they might note that by the turn of the 21st century, the United States had succeeded in its great, historical mission—globalizing the world. We don't want them to write that along the way, we forgot to globalize ourselves."

Both volumes clearly identify the global nature of our society. Consequently, shouldn't the nature of teaching and learning be global as well? This is clearly one of the key 21st Century Skills. with which we want to prepare our students. If we don't begin to think and act globally, how can we expect our students to be ready to do the same.

As Christian educators, we have greater opportunities than ever before in the history of the world to make a global impact on the faith lives of others, and we have the chance to empower our students to do the same. What an exciting time to be an educator! Sure, there are many challenges that our students will face, and many of the economic and political issues are expressed by Zakaria in The Post-American World. But aren't we all blessed to be living and working in such dynamic times!