Can U.S. Students Compete?

Why are other, less rich and productive countries, doing so much better with education?

• PRINT
• EMAIL

Students in Finland get better grades on reading, science, and math than every other country in the world. Finland also has shorter school days and there is no such thing as a failing school.

The drop out rate in Finland is less than 1 percent, but it is 25 percent in the United States of America. Education experts at the NBC Education Nation conference in New York this week say we have to catch up! I agree and so does Sir Ken Robinson.

Robinson talked to me after his panel discussion on Study Abroad. What can we learn from the global leaders in education? The author of The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, Robinson stressed the need for a better balance between science and art curriculum. This current generation of students should be able to make better use of technology in schools, he said.

He also talked about what he called the "three myths of creativity."

"The three myths of creativity are that only certain people are creative," he said. "I believe that’s not true, I believe everybody is creative and has great creative abilities."

I go to a Performing Arts school and I agree that creativity is important.

I also spoke to David Livermore, a senior research consultant at the Cultural Intelligence Center. He said that if he can change one thing in education, he would try to find a better connection with parents and students.

He also said that students can increase their cultural intelligence just by traveling. I think it is crucial to understand other cultures so we can discover the inspirations all around us.

To hear my conversation with Sir Robinson, click on the play button below.

OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FUTURE

In conjunction with NBC News' Education Nation, Kid Reporters around the country have interviewed their teachers, principals, and classmates about the state of education in their communities and what the classroom of the future might look like in the special report Our Schools, Our Future.

NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS

Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.