Mareh 30, 2023 Ms. Amanda Ripley Bright Sight Group 139 Walll St. Princeton, NJ 08540 Dear Ms. Ripley, 1 am writing to let you know how informative your book “The Smartest Kids in the World” was for me. Asa fairly new education major, I was disheartened to read about how far behind the United States was in test scores and the differences between studying abroad. The boldness and credibility of your book, as it provided the realslife experiences of Kim, Eric, and Tom, demonstrate how many modifications are needed to the American school system. Your summarization portrays why the United States has scored so low on the PISA, but I am still unclear on how we can completely resolve this dilemma. I know that adopting all educational practices from other countries will not work, but it is worth looking at some as prototypes to determine which would be successful for improvement in American education. We need improvements and change, and by reading your book and understanding its content, educators and legislators should be able to recognize the urgency for such a transformation. When reading about the strictness of South Korea, I thought about if I would actually want my children to attend a schooling so demanding. While I stress the importance of education and being successful, I want my children to be well-rounded. In South Korea, there is an enormous focus on education, which can deprive students of childhood experiences. I know in American there is a tremendous focus on sports, and while that is not priority, itis something that shapes character. The versatility and balance of things in addition to studying allows for children to be more adaptable as they face the professional world. Social emotional learning allows for better management skills and allows for increased competency. With a curriculum that allows for more leisure and socialization, children become more knowledgeable and self-assured as they experience intellectual and social facets in life. Increased confidence occurs through interpersonal relationships, rather than “book smarts” only. A well-rounded child may not score high on testing but be more poised and prepared for professional connections. We need to find a successful compromise that does not make the United States inadequate when it comes to education. After reading your book, some questions arose for me. Are test scores really the “end-all-be-all?” We know from data that many students are clearly not good test takers. Is this considered when evaluating performance on the PISA? Does the PISA reflect the amount of academic rigor each student possesses? With that being said, we must still look toward the future and be hopeful that education can be revised and enhanced in the United States. I agree that this should begin with teachers being more respected, better compensated, and given more autonomy. With these changes, an educator will more likely perform at their absolute best, encouraging better education for students. Thus, allowing for better retainment and ability to apply what is learnedin hopes of increasing test scores, Thank you for ambitiously incorporating your worldly knowledge and experiences, along with providing factual information for a better tomorrow. Fondly, Amanda M. Bertrand 109 Lister Lane Ridgely, MD 21660