So recently in all of my research (I actually don't have a life) I found an arictle that discusses world-class schools. The article did a great job of listing the differences and similarities between the United States and other schools. It discussed common traits of high achieving schools. I believe they studied 10 countries: USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Korea, France, and others. This was something interesting it had to say about homework, my favoite part is the end (could you image!?).

World-class students turn off television and turn on to homework.
World-class schools use homework--which is free—
to increase learning time.
(a difference of how families value homework and students do homework is obviously different!)

Historically, mothers in Japan and Taiwan
have been intensely involved in their children's
learning environment. Many Japanese mothers,
for instance, attend their child's school and take
notes when the child is ill.