SK> ->   I've seen many kids flunk out of college due to inadequate math 
SK> or
SK> -> literacy skills...but I've seen few flunk out of college because 
SK> they
SK> -> didn't learn American History!
SK> 
SK> Let me paraphrase what I _believe_ was your original point, and you
SK> correct me if I misunderstood you. Your original point was that:
SK> Time spent in high school on subjects other than basic literacy and 
SK> math
SK> were essentially a waste of time.
SK> Yes or no: was that your point?
    My point was that flunking out of college was largely determined by a 
student's lack of adequate preparation in math and literacy skills normally 
taught in or below junior high.
SK> As to whether or not students flunk out in college due to lack of
SK> history skills or whatever, that is another discussion altogether, 
SK> and
SK> one for which you can only give your annecdotal evidence or gut
SK> feelings. You have no corroborating data to back up your point. (Or 
SK> do
SK> you? Please cite your source. I have some time this summer to visit
SK> the library.)
    Just based on my father's teaching career over 27 years at a variety of 
colleges ranging from prestigious state universities to 2,000-student private 
schools with low academic standards, including the consensus of his 
colleagues.
    For a HS teacher or administrator, talking with profs at colleges your 
students typically go on to would be the equivalent of Toyota polling every 
buyer of a new Toyota about their opinions of the car.  (They do it.)  At his 
last job (at a 2nd-rate state school), my father told the administration that 
they should send reports on the students' strengths and weaknesses (as a 
class) to state high schools which sent many kids there.
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