[Jim Noble]

One of my favorite subjects (and yours too).

What percentage of the 18-year old population do you think is even theoretically capable of high school level academic work?

The reason our system has become a pious fraud is that its political masters think the percentage is or should be close to 100 (no child left behind).

The real number is probably closer to 25 than it is to 100.

There are urban school districts where the number is zero.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We need to get our kids and our money out of government schools.

[sphinx]

What percentage of the 18-year old population do you think is even theoretically capable of high school level academic work?

Exactly, and tracking is the answer. Granted, tracking systems need to give every student a fair early exposure to an academic curriculum and make ample allowance for late bloomers and second chancers. Beyond that, however, we need to recognize that academic rigor is inherently stratifying.

One of the many errors of the 60's was the "every child should go to college" dogma, with the implicit corollary that a kid who didn't is a failure. Not so. Some of the happiest people I know are in the skilled trades. They're always in demand, earn more than the average college grad, do tangible work as opposed to staring at paper or computer screens, and often have their own businesses. The only thing such careers lack is snob appeal.

[NCLaw441]

You said: What percentage of the 18-year old population do you think is even theoretically capable of high school level academic work?

The reason our system has become a pious fraud is that its political masters think the percentage is or should be close to 100 (no child left behind).

That is an excellent point!! We do our children no favors when we suggest that all children are capable of college level education. Many, most, in fact, should prepare themselves for honorable trade or industrial or clerical work. The fact is, as a good friend puts it, that "average" is pretty stupid. We need to recognize that fact, and do what is best for our children, not what LOOKS like it is best.

[JasonC]

Oh horsefeathers. Foreign countries that use rigorous tracking routinely provide a decent education to 80-90% of their population. It is the public school system that is falling, not the raw material.

[expatpat]

You are right. A true double-stream system should be set up, with separate classes, advanced subjects for the 30%, subjects of lower challenge and greater interest for the rest.

[mvpel]

No Child Left Behind