First off what we need to do is take a tougher stance. We were criticized by the world at large for invading Iraq. Fun, remove all aid and support to countries that criticized the move. Give a general vote of Iraq and see if the people actually want us in their country. If the majority is no, we leave and let them fend for themselves.
Should we force ourselves onto others and try to help them? No. If they don't want our help or be part of our plan, we isolate ourselves from them. Countries who do support our doings and want our aid, or offer aid to us in mutal friendship we should have a somewhat open door with them and they with us. The rest of the world be damned.
As for the education system we need a major overhaul and that won't come easy. I think what we need is a universal federalized education system based on part on the European and Japanesse education system. I know that this might infringe on State Rights but many states are seriously failing and not making the grade.
This is what I propose.
1: Mandatory preschooling atarting at the age of 4.
2: English, Spanish, Japanesse, and German start being taught at Kindergarten. It is scientific fact that children retain and learn languages better at an early age than those older.
3: Year round schooling. The ammount of school days do not change, but it is equally distributed that it is a year round affair than Autumn-Spring, summer off. Students will retain more if they are consistantly educated in this fashion.
If we are able to do these reforms in our education system I think we would have a significant increase in quality in our student.