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American scientists are sensationalizing (presenting something in an exciting way to get attention, that might not be as accurate) their studies- isn't this what students do? By trying to be the best, we join every club, even if we're not interested, take all the hardest classes and cram for them, try to do everything we can to make ourselves stand out for colleges. At New Trier, even if you're incredibly smart, it doesn't matter unless you're incredibly smart by 'New Trier Standards'. Students are always trying to out do others and themselves, running the risk of burnout, depression/eating disorders, and general unhappiness. Asghar says the reason Miley Cyrus at the VMAs was so shocking was because she was being so textbook American- the only way to get noticed is to be the loudest. We set our standards so high that even when perfection is attained, it's not good enough- not a 4.0 GPA varsity athlete who also does community service is good enough- he is only good enough if he gets full ride to Harvard and becomes a top notch lawyer, too.

There is a difference between education and schooling that was brought to my attention by this piece. To go to school and learn is a separate action from receiving an education. Education is a self-initiated action, an endeavor undertaken to better understand the world around you and grow as a person. Trough education t You learn the value of human life and how to think as an individual. Schooling is a task controlled by others, where you are fed others opinions and others ideas and it is for the purpose of others. Gatto argues that the problem with education in America is that we are schooling our children rather than educating them.