It is difficult to find a layperson who does not believe that American schools are dismal. Yet, when you visit other countries, you find that in many ways we do a better job educating our children than they do. Certainly our interest in educating all children leads the world. I am struck by those in other countries who are open in their admiration for our system and who want to emulate what we are doing. We do have serious challenges, but it would be useful to keep our challenges and our successes in some perspective.
Children seem to matter more elsewhere.
Regardless of whether I have been in a former communist country, a Third World country or countries similar to ours, children seem to count in those countries more than they do here. Even in the poorest place, you will find that adults revere their children and pin their hopes on them. In America, our public policies tell a different story. We lag behind in offsetting the effects of poverty, and in ensuring adequate health care and children's rights. If we really want to be first in the world in learning, we should consider becoming first in the world in our treatment of children.