An educator named Amanda Ripley has conducted a study of the nations whose school systems ranked best in the world and has written a book called, “The Smartest Kids in the World."

Ripley wondered why our students, who are as intelligent as any students in the world, aren’t measuring up. What do other schools around the world have, or do, that we don't? She interviewed parents, students, and educators in countries that scored better than the U.S.

We all wonder the same thing. Do we emphasize sports too much? We certainly provide generous financial support. It certainly isn’t a lack of parental attention, since it seems we are more indulgent of our children than anybody ought to be. It isn’t because other countries don’t have poverty because they do, nor is it because other countries are homogeneous, because they, too, have diversity.