The Virtues of Immigration + Education

The American education system is an area of much debate and opinion. While we always attempt to present fair view points regarding any issue on this blog, it doesn’t mean we don’t occasionally miss issues entirely. One of those issues is immigration.

Thomas Friedman, in today’s New York Times op-ed, tackles the discussion regarding influence of immigration on education:

“This isn’t complicated. In today’s wired world, the most important economic competition is no longer between countries or companies. The most important economic competition is actually between you and your own imagination. Because what your kids imagine, they can now act on farther, faster, cheaper than ever before — as individuals.

Today, just about everything is becoming a commodity, except imagination, except the ability to spark new ideas.”

Friedman’s experience left him thinking:

“If we can just get a few things right — immigration, education standards, bandwidth, fiscal policy — maybe we’ll be O.K.”

The solution? In the broadest sense, it means keeping the doors open on both the country, and more importantly, the classroom.