High school is way too late. I try to teach ninth...

2008-05-18T22:21:00.000-05:00

High school is way too late. I try to teach ninth graders and it is tragic how many cannot read or write or do math at a ninth grade level.

It would be great if every one of them said, "Gee, I better work hard to bring my skills up to a high school level." But rather the opposite usually happens. The students try less hard, do poorly, and eventually drop out, or graduate with Cs and Ds and an inability to start college without remedial programs.

Even when a ninth grader wants to get up to speed, there is often so much ground to make up that there just isn't the time or the teachers available to help him do it.

Comments on Thoughts on Education Policy: Is High School Too Late?

High school is way too late. I try to teach ninth...