What South Koreans Can Teach Americans About Raising Emotionally Healthy, High Achieving Children

We often hear of the high achievement in science and technology by people living in what used to be considered "Third World" countries and wonder what happened? How have Asians outstripped Americans in so many areas of progress? It starts with the children. What are other countries doing that America is not? The American experience is unique in many ways; a country rising out of rebellion against tyranny, yet built on an international slave business that has global repercussions to this day. While America is not officially at war as are some war torn countries abroad  its culture of violence and illicit sex promoted on the television and all forms of media has robbed the nation's children of their innocence. American children, particularly those in urban communities, suffer from some of the same post traumatic stress disorders as those children who are living in countries in the middle east, where violence and being violated is a daily fact of life. So what is it llike to be in a society where the citizens don't carry guns, the children don't dop out of school, and the citizens focus on education and development and preparation for world trade? Today's guest is Ms. Zakiyya Latif, a teacher in south Korea as part of the government's English Program In Korea, (EPIK), and she'll share her observations about the differences in culture, behavior, and expectations for success and perhaps what Americans can learn about creating excellence by first creating peace.