Does a school system make or break a student?

I recently had a discussion with my mom about our school system and how it is so hard for [me ] to get what I want out of it. Let me give you some information about my mom's past:

My mom [and dad] was born and raised in Bucuresti, Romania. She had school Monday's through Saturday every week of her school life while in Romania. She started to learn English when she was in 1st grade...since a second language was mandatory for students to learn. Her parents were not wealthy by any means, but somehow they saved enough money to be able to support their 4 kids as they took private tutoring sessions for math. This was additional to their 6-day a week school. Romania emphasizes on their education system. In order for students to even think about college, they must take an extensive exam that will either let them in or not. Parents were willing to pay more for tutors so that their kids were best of the best. If they didn't turn in assignments or speak up in class, their teachers had the power to hit them with ruler sticks (my dad had a few of those experiences..haha). This education system gave my mom such a strong work ethic that taught her how to not only perform at an almost perfect level, but taught her how to strive in anything she sets her mind to.

Our American school system is so different. I remember when my brother was in fourth grade. He had the best teacher ever. This particular teacher believed in pushing his students conceptually and gave them homework. he wanted his students to strive to be awesome at what they do. Some parents formed a petition to get this teacher fired b/c he was too hard on the kids. This teacher was forced to not give anymore homework for the remainder of the year...he later resigned. Some of my teachers didn't even bother pushing us to achieve harder things. Our education system is lazy and is last on the list of importance. Teacher's salaries get cut, books and supplies get cut, extra curricular activities get cut, homework gets cut, etc. What will be left for our students to get he best education possible? It's such a joke! I had to wait a whole year to even get into classes that were too full... a whole year!!! People in this country are blessed to be able to attend college and our school system deprives us of the best education system. Sadly, I don't know what it takes to change it...

ok, sorry had to vent. Anyone else irritated with our Education dept. at BSU? I sure am...ugh!!!