American kids think they outperform other countries in tests. In reality? they're almost dead last!
There are many things wrong in the American public school system (we covered cafeteria meals here), and the film Waiting for Superman brought light to a lot of the issues facing schools.
One of the most shocking ones is that, on international math and science tests, American schoolchildren rank 25th in Math and 21st in Science among the 30 most developed countries. However, they also ranked 1st in thinking they outperformed everyone else. Some experts think that this is a combination of a high focus on self-esteem and low expectations. If true, this might put the US in an educational disadvantage in the future.
In 2008, a tragic train wreck that ended up being known as the Chatsworth crash in the San Fernando Valley, injured 135 people and killed 25 others. Among the tragic losses that day was Charles E. Peck, a 49-year-old man from Salt Lake City. 
Hitoshi Nikaidoh was a surgical resident in Christus St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Tx. The morning of August 18th, he was walking into an elevator when the doors suddenly closed and pinned his shoulders. The elevator car then moved upward, decapitating him in the process. A female employee witnessed the gruesome scene because she was inside the elevator and was trapped inside for over an hour until they were able to rescue her. She recalls the horrifying story:
Whatever the newest young people fad is, there are always horror stories cautioning parents about it. They're usually always false or exaggerated, like the Pokémon cartoon being harmful, or Harry Potter leading kids to become real witches and wizards. 
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone: Lily and James Potter were killed and the Troll attack 11 years later
