Why not study traditions of the people of the United States instead?

Oh yeah. We're the bad guys.

Have you been to Middle School? Our traditions is all they do actually study...
our version of History (which I believe to be true but certainly not the whole story);
our holidays (don't let anyone fool you that public schools do not celebrate Xmas - it is alive & well),
our sports;

There is certainly nothing wrong with studying our traditions, but there is also absolutely nothing wrong with studying someone elses. It gives people a great perspective (you might actually want to try it - sounds like you might need it). We are not the only ones on the planet, and we are not the only ones with great traditions.

Irene - Are you suggesting that the schools stop celebrating any tradition before 1776? Goodbye Santa Claus, Goodbye Easter Bunny, Goodbye New Year's Baby

I have found my life enriched by traveling the world and experiencing other cultures and traditions. I applaud this man's efforts to carry on a tradition that is thousands of years old and find the positive in this story - teaching art to kids.

Rather than having our students study other people's cultures, we should be teaching them to excel in science and math. That's what the competition is doing, and they certainly aren't studying our traditions since we are the bad guys.