[manerfeifei]

According to the Broad Education Foundation:
-- 68% of American eighth graders can't read at grade level and won't catch up
-- American students rank 21st in science compared to students in 30 industrialized countries
-- America's top math students rank 25th out of 30 countries
In 2000, the last time The World Health Organization ranked the top health systems in the world, the U.S. was 37th, behind France (first); Oman (eighth); and Chile (33rd).
Maybe part of the problem is the American culture rewards weakness. If America wants to be the absolute best, we must stop telling our children that they are so exceptional when they are not. If your kid can't shoot, pass, dribble or rebound, guess what? They are terrible at basketball and should find a new sport. If it's just about the enjoyment, fine. But if it's about winning, they can't cut it.

-- full detail: www.cnn.com/2011/11/18...cans-lazy/