Without any doubt at all teacher quality is the fundamental differentiator. Not just incidentally of education but I would argue probably the biggest single differentiator of success for the nations of the 21st Century.
Let us speak though we show all our faults and weaknesses - for it is a sign of strength to be weak to know it and out with it - not in a set way and ostentatiously though but incidentally and without premeditation.
I used to write sonnets and various things and moved from there into writing prose which incidentally is a lot more interesting than poetry including the rhythms of prose.
Happiness in this world when it comes comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit and it leads us a wild-goose chase and is never attained. Follow some other object and very possibly we may find that we have caught happiness without dreaming of it.
I wish we would all remember that being American is not just about the freedom we have it is about those who gave it to us.