mg - Occupational therapists and Speech and Language pathologists are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, these specialists are often the first to go when the cuts come.

You are also right about the focus of high schools. The curriculum is geared to those who are preparing for college or university. In other words, they take care of the upper 20% and ignore the vocational needs of others. I also agree that home economics is important but maybe even more important would be courses in parenting.

Most of all we need apprenticeships. Programs that will allow students to take required courses and work part-time as an apprentice in the various trades. Our tradespeople are retiring and we need to pass these skills on to the younger generation. We need plumbers, electricians, carpenters, stone masons, etc.

Unfortunately, our schools are lumbering, old institutions that are slow to change because the bureaucrats are more interested in pushing paper and counting beans than listening to teachers who are on the front lines.