K Pop-Quiz

“They were not doing their ABCs. They were getting a head start on a defining moment more than a decade in the future: their college entrance exam. Write a paragraph of five to eight sentences using five synonyms for ‘large,’ said Ms. Keri, their teacher. The kids began jotting down ideas in neat handwriting.” The kids, it should be noted, were doing so in a foreign language. And they’re only in kindergarten. Think Americans are competitive when it comes to private schools? Consider South Korea. WaPo (Gift Article): Cram schools for kindergartners are the latest in South Korean college prep. “Parents are increasingly preparing their 5-year-olds to eventually sit for college entrance exams as competition for good universities grows ever more fierce.”