The United States has proven itself to be a world leader with its powerful military, democratic government, and rigorous foreign policies. There is, however, one category in which the United States struggles to be number one: education. As shocking as it may seem, the public school system in America is not superior to that of other developing countries. I witnessed these scandalous phenomena firsthand, involved in the public school system from kindergarten to freshman year of high school. The student body and school administration are turning into an unproductive system with a zombie attitude. American students lack academic drive and curiosity compared to European and Asian countries because the standard for academic success is consistently lowered. Americans need to reform their education system and change their perspective on how important education is to the rest of the world. One of the main problems in the education system is the mentality of students, especially those in poverty. Students in poverty since the beginning of the Progressive Era have tended not to engage in class (Hood). Cultural trends in 20th and 21st century America have developed different philosophies on how education should be treated. The overarching theme across America is that students in poverty tend to be less happy, less enthusiastic about school, and less invested in the future ahead of them because they lack hope and optimism. According to the International Journal for Behavioral Medicine, students who have a low “…socioeconomic status [see] the future as containing more negative [experiences] than positive [experiences].” These students are considered the troublemakers of...... middle of paper ...... America's diversity is what separates countries from the United States, America should still maintain a high level of education and be an example for all countries as America has always been. America now knows where it ranks on the totem pole when it comes to education. Having a powerful military and democratic government will only take Americans so far as to become a world leader. Rigorously teaching American students will increase America's dominance as a country and as a people for generations. Teachers are an essential need in America. The United States often takes teachers for granted, and if the American government helps teachers by improving the quality of their teaching, students will be successful in the classroom. Perhaps America can no longer be a country with a zombie attitude, but a thriving country with accomplished students supported by the community around them.