The Sky is Not Falling After All: US Schools Rank High Internationally

[JDPriestly]

7. That is correct.

And it explains our high drop-out rate.

A lot of kids we force into an academic track would thrive in a more flexible educational environment that emphasized learning by doing.

You can learn a lot of math by working in a garage repairing cars or even delivering products to a store.

Students who want to study have lots of opportunities in the US. But kids who really don't like school should be given choices that insure that they have the skills they need for their lives but aren't forced to sit in classrooms all day when they hate it.

We would be better off as a nation if we provided top opportunities for every child who wants to study math and science or serious liberal arts and let those who really don't want to study those things in depth learn to do what they prefer to do.

Please understand. I believe that every child who wants to study academics should have the opportunity to do so. I just think it is a waste of a kid's time and our money to force children to stay on an academic track if they aren't paying attention and don't want to study.