Nicholas Kristof discusses what can be learned by putting an Asian face on American education.

American kids typically say in polls that the students who succeed in school are the "brains." Asian kids typically say that the A students are those who work hard. That means no Asian-American ever has an excuse for not becoming valedictorian.

It's work ethic, no doubt. I'm in a minority with regards to this, but I take full credit for every C or D I've gotten in college (didn't have any in high school). i think the system could be handled better so that students can have a life and grades (my record is 8 full-length papers due in one week, which is ridiculous). But for the most part I blame myself for not working harder. I'm also the product of a classical high school education...EVERYBODY was gifted and talented, and in no case did that mean they got to color more in class...smart students just got a bigger stack of books.