[FITZ]

In the university here, 65% of the students are in remedial classes ---- even though there is a much less expensive community college --- but I think that it's an abundance of financial aid that is bringing that about. Plus poor quality education and many family factors.

[Lady Jag]

A number of local corporations have classrooms because of virtually illiterate h.s. grad applicants.

[raybbr]

I think there are a lot of factors that have caused the education deficit in our country. Children have to be taught how to learn, mostly through trial and error with some basis in knowledge. We don't do that in our schools today. Some can be attributed to laziness on the parents and schools part. Some can be social - like the children who are bombarded with leisure ads that promote instant gratification yet don't offer any way to cope when that instant isn't very gratifying.

Like I said a whole of factors are involved. However, I believe the author is right, genetics and environment must play some role in whether a child is capable of grasping higher math and sciences. And, when the focus is put on learning those subjects at an early age they do become less inclined to broaden their education to include some of the more practical applications their minds are capable of understanding.