According to the title of a Robert Fulghum book, all one really needs to know they learned in kindergarten (Fulghum, 1989). Evaluating the national high school graduation rates over the past thirty years, and noting the steady decline in these numbers, which accelerated in the 1990s (Wheelock & Miao, 2005), it would be easy to disagree with Mr.…

With tongue tentatively hovering in the direction of the distal side of the tooth line and the lining of the inner cheek, the author suggests terminating the elementary school years with the seventh grade and requiring completion of nine to twelve months of paid work experience before the resumption of high school. Maintaining that a practical…