2 Million Minutes, I Just wanna be Average, and For Once Blame the Students

1: 2 Million Minutes.
First of all, if Harvard thinks the United States it going to be okay, we will be okay--unless the research was complied by an international student... then we're screwed. And second, I believe being well-rounded is a lot more important than being a slave to academics. Isn't the point of getting a good education to get a good job and make a lot of money so you can have a high quality life? But if you spend all of your time working to be successful, you will not be able to appreciate the things you have thus making life unfulfilling. Teens in China think the freedom American teens have is like a dream. It's is unfortunate for teens in India and China that they are discouraged to live their life freely and pursue their actual interests.
2: I Just wanna be Average
I agree with Rose that education does have it's flaws. For example, my brother was in special ed for behavioral problems throughout grade school. Like Rose, my brother was an educationally capable person--he was in advanced math in fifth grade--but they assumed that because he was in special ed that he was incapable. At one point the special ed department was given a substitute test to take instead of the MCA. My brother found the test to be extremely easy along with the majority of his class. However, he was a little upset at the school's underestimation of his knowledge. One day my brother and his friend were talking about the test and my mom overheard. My mom, who along with other special ed kids parents had no idea this was done, was so outraged that she called the school and fought until the class was allowed to take the actual MCA test. Most of the class passed.
     This is only one story, semi-similar to Rose's, but improvements in education can always be used.
3. For Once blame the Students
I was gone for the last part of class Friday, so unfortunately I did not receive this essay but I think I can pretty much assume what it is about: students are responsible for their grades. And yes, this is true to a point. However this does not take into account the different backgrounds from which students come from. It is proven that higher income students generally do better in school than lower income students. This is most likely because higher income students have the resources available to succeed while lower income students may not. A student living in a family that is struggling to survive may be responsible for things like making money or taking care of sibling giving them a disadvantage to well off student who can afford to have the free-time to do homework. This also does not take into account the educational support each student receives. Some students may have grown up without an emphasis on education or maybe their parents just don't care.