Top American, Indian, and Chinese students profiled in the new, limited-release documentary "Two Million Minutes," have widely divergent educational experiences: A U.S. student claims to do homework only "occasionally," while another talks about the need to balance schoolwork and fun. Meanwhile, their peers in China and India have early morning study sessions, pull all-nighters and work with tutors.

While some education professors criticized the film's premise, Harvard professor Tony Wagner said U.S. schools don't encourage creativity or critical thinking: "We don't challenge kids in schools," he said. "We don't challenge them to think; we don't challenge them to create."

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View clips from the documentary and accompanying tools…at www.2mminutes.com.

Source: Los Angeles Times (free registration) (6.16.08)