Maybe that too needs to change. The idea that the US is the leader, or falling behind. We are where we are is true for children, adults, and nations. We shouldn't have to excel at everything. That's why we live in groups. We all excel at our own things.

I am guilty, though, of this fear of falling behind, as I have used it multiple domains, not just education. I've had it applied to me by parents and teacher- because I was never where people thought I should be. That idea can mess with a person.

I do hear you, that teachers have it tough. Teaching kids to perform on test is not teaching student practical living skills. There are countries that seem to out perform us. But what if even that is bad math? We here about Indians doing better and they come to the states and get PhD and MDs... But what if was also partly due to the fact their population and those that excel naturally rise to where they are?

Kids are supposed to grow up and take care of themselves. Yeah, but it's not that kids are behind, or teachers are behind, but systems are behind. See, how hard it is to get out of this paradigm? Our society has changed. Society is complex. The skill sets we need to survive in the market aren't being taught, and by the time the school get there, the market has already changed again. Tech is changing. We're about to replace most workers with machines. Smart machines. Human can not compete with what's coming. While they were teaching me math, no one taught me the life skill of balancing a checkbook. My parents sucked at financially responsibility? Who is teaching this? Kids do what their parents do unless someone teaches them other wise.

I think you and Singh have a point. In some ways we're failing to give kids the right tools. "you're falling behind" is a poor inspirational tool. When you realize just how far behind you are and it's getting worse, you might give up.