What is wrong with American schools? That's the million Dollar Question, or should I say the Multi-Billion Dollar Question. In the past, America's solution to our abysmal public school situation has been to throw money at the problem. But that obviously isn't working. American students are consistently scoring less on standardized tests than other nations children. Personally, I believe the problems are more complex than a simple budget problem.
             The truth is, American culture is to blame. For some reason, American students are not raised with the desire for academic success that occurs in other countries. In Japan, students often commit suicide after doing poorly on college boards. In America, I know of people who have taken their SAT''S while under the influence of drugs. Many of our students just don't want to learn.
             Not only do other countries produce students who are far more highly skilled than many Americans, but they can't seem to keep any of them from immigrating to America. In 1998, South Africa was able to retain two percent of their Computer Programming graduates. So I guess America has plenty of skilled laborers in the work force, it's just that none of them are Americans. This is not acceptable. Now the solution to this is not to change our culture, because it won't happen, some of these people cannot be helped. Instead, America must foster an environment where those students who wish to excel are given the chance. Instead of spending millions on special education classes, we need more places like Springs. This nation needs more college prep schools, schools that are not designed to educate factory workers, but instead focus on training future lawyers and doctors. If an inner city school can't send any of its graduates to college, close it. The funds from that school can be used to buy better equipment for other schools.
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