Years ago, I asked a Singaporean mother how her son in a lackluster neighborhood school could excel in a national exam at the end of his sixth year, which opened up the way for a top middle school and eventually, an Ivy League university.

"His teachers were very committed," she said. "Sometimes, they called us about how he could do better even before he arrived home."

My son would be lucky if he had such teachers when his time came, I thought. And thanks to technology, I've got a lot more than I wished for. Every day, WeChat keeps me and other parents in the loop about what has been taught in class, where our 7-year-olds stand in quizzes and tests, and the homework to be completed even before the bell rings.