I understand that the book is Science Fiction. I understand that it is based on major competition...but what does it have to do with this particular class? I'm not being critical..I just don't get the connection to education. Can someone clue me in?

Janelee, great question! Iwas wondering that myself through the whole book. The only connection I could make was: As teachers we need to know when/how to push a student to reach his highest ablity level, yet unlike the book, we need to also recognize when to stop the push. Enders teachers knew he was at his limit, but they proceeded even though they knew they might break him. Out here in the real world, we as teachers have to know when to stop.
That's the closest connection I can come up with, I am sure someone has a better take on it then me.