Final answer:
East Asian students' better performance in math is attributed to cultural emphasis on hard work and academic achievement. Equitable distribution of resources and top teacher recruitment are also factors in the success of top-ranking countries in math and science. In contrast, the U.S. faces challenges in resource distribution and subject-specialized teachers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research suggests that children at East Asian schools tend to do better at math than children at American schools due to a variety of factors. The most supported factors include cultural emphasis on academic achievement, and social and educational dynamics rather than genetic differences. Cultural practices, like the labor-intensive wet rice cultivation mentioned by Malcolm Gladwell, may instill a work ethic that translates to academic diligence, including math studies. Moreover, the recruitment of top teachers and equitable distribution of educational resources show a common thread among nations that excel in science and math, which is not exclusive to Asia.
In the U.S., by contrast, resources including money and quality teachers are not equitably distributed, which affects student achievement. Additionally, students in disadvantaged American schools are more likely to be educated by a teacher who didn't specialize in the subject matter. Therefore, the assertion that inadequate math curriculum in American schools could be a contributing factor to the lower performance may also have some merit.