American Students May Underperform in Math and Science, but MMM, MMM, MMM, Can they Sing! « NewsReal Blog

American Students May Underperform in Math and Science, but MMM, MMM, MMM, Can they Sing! « NewsReal Blog: "President Barack Obama came to a startling realization last week while in South Korea: the educational system in South Korea is better at teaching kids math and science than ours is. In fact, when it comes to those subjects, the differences are truly startling. American students rank 21st in science and 25th in math compared with students in other countries, and they rank even lower vis-à-vis many Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

CNN reported on the President’s tour of South Korean schools. Obama was visibly impressed with both what he saw and with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s explanation of why his country’s children excel:

Lee Myung-Bak: Even if somebody is dirt poor, they are insisting that their kids are getting the best education.

The dropout rate for South Korean students is negligible, while ours has tripled in the past 30 years. South Korean children spend more time in the classroom, and while in school, they study hard. Obama concedes this fact:

Barack Obama: There is a hunger for knowledge [in South Korea], an insistence on excellence, a reverence for science and math and technology and learning.

So what does the President propose in order to get American students back on the right educational track and give them the skills which will allow them to take advantage of “expanding opportunit[ies] for all Americans in a world where education is the key to success?”"