I have posted before about how globalization and other changes to the world business environment have driven a need to develop and use our whole minds. This in turn is also driving what I believe is a need to address school systems to adjust to these needs. I recently read an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal on how Pain Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts. The article is an interesting piece on how Alan Blinder, economist, Princeton teacher and one time advisor to the Federal Reserve has changed his mind about the impact of globalization and offshoring to American jobs.

It is easy to jump to the protectionist approach (especially for politicians) but really this just delays an inevitability. What, in my opinion, is the more correct response is to adjust our understanding and focus on what will be staying put. High touch areas and things that instantaneous technical bandwidth won't address will always be in demand. As a recent quote from Texas State Representative Rob Eissler, on the importance of arts education states "Left brain is logic, right brain is creativity. We don't want our kids to compete internationally with half of their brains tied behind their backs." (Original post from Dan Pink's blog. Dan is the author of the fabulous book A Whole New Mind that deals with many of these topics.)