I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to, but in order to do certain things, one needs power and money.

As for writing the editorial, I wouldn't have thought two minutes about it. I would have had it for you ten minutes later. I'm truly stunned that nobody wanted to write it.

I get very confused about all these American education standards - common core and no child left behind.

In my school days, it was very simple. Every single child - no exceptions - learnt the same thing for the first 7 years - reading, writing, arithmetic, hygiene, geograph, history, how to sew or do woodwork. After junior school, we had a choice of three paths - go to trade school, finish high school and go to a technical college, teachers college, or nursing school, or get the grades to go to university.

In order to go to university, you needed 3 languages, 2 sciences, math, history or geography.You also needed an aggregate of 65% for all subjects in the final exam which was set by the Department of Education (and not the school), and if you got below 50% on your mother language or math, you were refused entry to university. It was only the final exam results that mattered.

We were very well educated.

I get very confused about this American idea that the most important subjects like English grammar and matth shouldn't be forced on kids. Why is it that kids in other countries can do this but Americans can't?