It is argued that, although comparing student achievement in different countries can inform the debate about American schools, direct comparison is inappropriate because of (1) differing visions of childhood in different nations; (2) time and achievement differences; (3) sampling problems; (4) differing opportunities to learn test content; (5)…

Despite recurrent criticisms, the American public school system is not failing. Evidence suggests that youths are smarter and are achieving more than in the past. Articles from as early as 1909 offer criticisms of the schools that seem applicable today. Current reform proposals will exacerbate the differences between "have" and "have not" school…

Criticisms leveled at the American education system are examined in this paper, which asserts that misinformation about Japanese education should not be used as a basis for educational reform in the United States. Commonly reported changes made against the American public school system are explored; they include lowered student intelligence,…