Final answer:
The difference in achievement between Asian and North American students can be attributed to factors such as better recruitment of quality teachers and more school days, rather than being a new phenomenon or solely related to gender.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the difference in achievement between Asian and North American students, like Hiroko having a higher math score, it may be due to several factors rather than being a simple or recent phenomenon. Research shows that top-ranked nations in science and math often share commonalities such as recruiting top teachers, but not necessarily spending more money per student or exclusively using cutting-edge technology. Another significant factor is the difference in the length of the school year, with countries like South Korea spending more days in school annually compared to the United States.
It is well-established that differences in achievement are not solely determined by the amount of time spent in formal education or the financial investment in the educational system. Instead, educational practices, such as the value placed on education, the quality of teachers, and the resilience of students, play critical roles. Moreover, these differences in achievement are not gender-specific, as both boys and girls in these countries tend to perform better on average compared to their North American counterparts, debunking the notion that the phenomenon holds only for girls.