Edges on the Learning CurveEducation is the catalyst for success. In the United States, we like to think that our school system rigorously prepares students for college and work. Many students have difficulty adjusting to the American curriculum, so it must be intense, right? Those who can keep up are likely to succeed in our society. If leading Americans lived in China, things would be different. Some of these “best” students would find themselves working minimum wage in dead-end jobs. For what? This is because the American school system is not rigorous. In fact, we barely made the top 30 academic rankings last year. So why are countries like China and Singapore beating us so much? The answer is simple. They care more. Schools care enough to invest in better teachers and to teach a truly rigorous curriculum. Parents care enough to impose discipline and actively participate in their children's school experience, and children care enough to listen. Together, America's schools, parents, and children can improve the nation's educational rankings by investing in better teachers, enforcing discipline at home, and creating a stricter curriculum that meets our need to become a serious competitor against Asia. our academic success lies in our investment in high-quality teachers. In doing so, teachers' salaries will have to increase. As a direct result, there will be more competition for the position and people with PhDs. will be motivated to teach. Higher quality teachers will possess more subject knowledge than other job candidates and will be able to teach at a faster pace. In China and Japan, for example, teachers receive equivalent salaries... middle of paper ... just by imitating the Asian procedure, why shouldn't we do it? By placing a higher value on teachers, enforcing discipline at home, and reforming the American curriculum, schools and parents can cooperate to ensure higher test scores than in other countries. All of this can be done by changing our mindset regarding all aspects of education, as well as enacting political and economic reforms to provide more funding to schools and make it more difficult. Wouldn't it be great if we could look competing countries in the eye instead of admiring them? As the saying goes: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" » Let's join Asian countries and finally share the spotlight by doing what they do best. That is to say, to take care. We must care who teaches us. We must care about what we learn. We must care about success. And education is the catalyst.