The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way was written

by Amanda Ripley and published in August 2013 (Ripley, Smartest Kids in the World:
And How They Got That Way, 2013). Ripley is a journalist for Time, The Atlantic, and
other magazines ("Amanda Ripley"). Through her her book, she compares and contrasts
the differences of the education system in different countries. The book is centered
around three American students who decide to travel abroad in order to fulfill the things
they feel are lacking in the American education system.
Kim was a fifteen-year-old girl who lived in Oklahoma, and was simply bored in
school. She felt as if she was not being challenged in her classes and decided to study
abroad in Finland. Unlike her school in America, the school in Finland was very old
fashioned and lacked the technology that majority of the schools in America contain.
Although the schools in Finland didnt have fancy technological tools, they had
something much better, well-trained and passionate teachers. It seems as if the schools in
America heavily rely on the use of technology, as opposed to the personal relationship
between student and teacher.
The book explains that teachers in Finland are highly respected. Ripley goes on to
explain that the process of becoming a teacher in Finland is extremely challenging and
selective. Finland only allows top students to enroll in teacher-training program, which
are more difficult than the ones in America. This is just one prime example as to why we
are so behind regarding our academics. Successful students need a strong foundation in
order to succeed. For that success to come, we need strong educators who will lead the
way for their students. That type of success will not come about with mediocre educators.

Another difference between America and Finlands school system is the students.
Kim asked two of her classmates, Why do you guys care so much? What makes you
work hard in school? They simply responded by saying, its school. How else will I
graduate and go to university and get a good job? The students in Finland have more
drive and passion towards their schoolwork than students in America. Unlike Finland, the
students in America see school as a chore and not as a gateway to a life of success.
The second American student to study abroad was a young man named Eric. He
was attending a public school in Minnesota and decided to study in South Korea, a place
where rigor is extremely important. According to the Glossary of Education Reform,
rigor is a term used by educators to describe instruction, schoolwork, learning
experiences, and expectation that are academically, intellectually, and personally
challenging.
In the beginning of his experience, Eric noticed that majority of his classmates
were asleep during class. However, he soon realizes that theyre tired because of all the
time they spend studying at the hagwons. Hagwons are cram schools where the students
go to get a much more demanding education. The book goes on to introduce us to South
Koreas best hagwon instructor also known as the 4 million dollar teacher, Andrew
Kim. Hagwons in South Korea are so intense that authorities usually get involved to
make sure the curfew is not being abused.
Teachers, parents, and students are all aware that the pressure to do well
academically is extremely high. The pressure of doing well is so intense, that one boy
killed his mother in fear of her being disappointed of his test grades. However, no one
does anything to change it due to the fact that in order to succeed the students must do

whatever it takes in order to pass the graduation exam. Graduation exams are compared
to Americas sporting events. Similar to the amount of time and dedication, athletes
spend to prepare for a big game, is the same way the South Korean students behave
regarding their schoolwork.
Unlike the school system in America, South Koreas was much more honest and
real. Whatever grade the student received, that was the grade they got. There was no such
thing as a re-test. They were not spoon fed information or babied throughout their
educational career. South Koreas school system better prepared their students for the
reality of life.
The last country Ripley focused on was Poland. Tom was a teenager from
Pennsylvania who decided to study abroad in Poland. During his time, he learned that the
school systems in America place too much emphasis on sports. He remembered one of
his high school math teachers saying that he only became a math teacher so he could
coach football. Poland didnt believe in sports during school hours. They saw no use or
benefit and felt that it should be played afterschool hours. Poland viewed school as a
place for students to gain an education.
According to the National Center of Education Statistics, The Program for
International Student Assessment also known PISA is an international test taken by 15
year olds students reading, mathematic, and science literacy. The test focuses on
functional skills that students have gained towards the end of their schooling. The three
countries that Ripley wrote about in her school have done well on this exam. Perhaps this
could be as a result of their education system.

Ripley was to write about the successes of three different countries and took it one
step further by comparing our education system. The main characters were also American
and were able to share their personal take on their experiences. The book lays the
pathway of what is needed to improve our education system. Its just of matter of actually
making the change.

References:
Amanda Ripley. (2013, January 1). Retrieved November 3, 2014, from
http://www.amandaripley.com/about-amanda
National Center for Education Statistics. (2014, January 1). Program for
International Student Assessment (PISA). Retrieved November 4, 2014, from
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/
Ripley, A. (2013). Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way.
Simon and Schuster.
The Glossary of Education Reform. (2014, August 13). Rigor Definition.
Retrieved November 3, 2014, from http://edglossary.org/rigor/