06-17-2007, 01:24 AM
I've got no dog in this "fight", but I am a product of public schooling myself. Too many parents try to throw money at their kids, rather than attempt to instill the inner discipline that any kid needs to develop to succeed in the academic world. The newest twist, I've heard, is raising the age at which the kid can drop out. Too much exciting entertainment (games and sex) and not enough dull but fullfilling preparation for life, in today's childrearing practices, I fear. JMHO
I spent over 10 years interviewing your kids who were trying to enter the job force as Apprentices in the Skilled Trades. After 10 years out of school, most could only recite some school award they'd gotten as an 8th grader, rather than produce a substantial employment record. Minimal effort gave minimal results - what a surprise! (not to me! I got a degree after scoring a scholarship based upon those infernal tests the kids complain about).
I spent over 10 years interviewing your kids who were trying to enter the job force as Apprentices in the Skilled Trades. After 10 years out of school, most could only recite some school award they'd gotten as an 8th grader, rather than produce a substantial employment record. Minimal effort gave minimal results - what a surprise! (not to me! I got a degree after scoring a scholarship based upon those infernal tests the kids complain about).