[garyhope]

How many years does it take to teach kids basic reading, writing and math, some American and world history, geography, science, basic thinking and logic?

Maybe we could use less years in school and more of them working or traveling the world and learning something else.

Maybe we should teach them how to prepare for their financial future and how to keep their pants on (or up), not get married until you're fully prepared for adulthood and not endlessly reproduce without preparation.

I think when you finish high school, the government should issue you a passport, a backpack, a limited debit card, some good sturdy shoes and an airline ticket out of the country. You should stay gone for a year or two and come back fully cognizant and chastised about how good and wonderful America really is compared to the rest of the crappy world. Then you go to work and actually produce something besides words, slogans, drivel and "protests".

[metmom]

How many years does it take to teach kids basic reading, writing and math, some American and world history, geography, science, basic thinking and logic?

Based on what I've read about American history, about 5-6. Seems that by most accounts, pioneer kids on the frontier started about 8-9 and went till early teens. From historical documents I've seen they were far better educated than most high school graduates in about half the time. Even the Mennonites do that kind of job. We used Rod & Staff curriculum for some of the subjects in our years of homeschooling and they expect a LOT out of their kids. It's very rigorous.