The gowns are flowing. The tassels are dangling. The celebrations are booming. Thousands of kids get to kick up their heels at the survival of the education process. Some from high school, some from college, some masters and doctors. The world of academia has a ton of prestige, but as a man who endured sixteen years of American education, I'm here to tell you that the system is bunk from the get go.

Let's start with what is important: Nothing that's not in the curriculum. When I moved to New Mexico in third grade, I was in that void of not knowing how to write cursive when everybody else had. I had no instruction but a workbook that the teacher gave me to complete. I finished the book and had horrible handwriting. Future teachers would comment about how horrible my handwriting was, and I agreed. I never felt the need to improve, and no one really cared. Finally by 9th grade, teachers told me to type my major assignments. Am I a great typist? Nope, never took a class. I'm still a hunt and pecker, but still, no one really cares. One handwriter left behind.

Let's talk about who teachers: A lot of overworked, undermotivated folks. My uncle just retired from being an algebra teacher for twenty years. He hated his job for the final twelve. He hated the kids, disapproved of the principal, and had nothing good to say about the educational system. Twenty years of teaching when you despise it. He is not alone. I can't tell you how many of my teachers wished they were doing something else. There is little incentive to improve their skills as teachers without pay raises. It's not hard to see that uninspired teachers teach uninspired students.

Let's talk about the heart of the matter: The curriculum. It stinks. Kids learn English, History, Math & Science. Kids are tested on English, History, Math & Science. When kids graduate high school, they think they know all they need to know. See how far you get in the world with the test answers for English, History, Math & Science. We need to invest a serious chunk of time making kids good people rather than quality test takers.

Here's a few ideas. Every high schooler needs a finance class. Teach them how to balance a check book, make credit card payments, and make a budget with different amounts of income. For being a capitalist society, we do very little to educate the children on how to be financially responsible. Imagine what kind of country we would be if we weren't all in debt.

How about a class of ethics and citizenship? Kids don't know the first thing about what it means to be an American citizen. I don't care how many American History classes they take. We don't need the Ten Commandments on the wall. We need to talk about the Ten Commandments, The Golden Rule, our rights as citizens, and making good choices when presented with many. I memorized the beginning of the Constitution in fifth grade (We the People...), and no one ever asked me about it again. We spent more time on memorizing the state capitals.

Our kids are fat and out of shape. We have health classes where kids sit behind a desk for an hour with a text book. That's really healthy. How about an active health class? Teach kids that eating a variety of food is good. Taste test fruits. Experiment with cooking and foods from different cultures. Go for walks and light runs. Show the benefit of stretching and breathing. We don't need to memorize every body part in the circulation system. We need to use our circulation system.

How about a courtesy class? With all the gang bangers, slang slingers, posers and wannabees that inevitably exist in the youth, someone needs to teach the kids how to properly deal with their fellow peers. How to shake hands, speak appropriately in formal situations, and make a positive impression on others. They may find that they get positive reactions. We might even prevent a few future wars from happening.

I could go on and on. These are just a few of the many necessities that the youth of today are lacking, and it's not their fault. Even the best and brightest are so busy trying to get good grades, high test scores, and into the college of their choice that the don't know how to be an impressive person.

Everyone blathers on about how the kids are our future, but where does an emphasis on standardize testing and an ancient curriculum get them? A dead end job that they think is the best they will ever do. Just ask my uncle.

Our entire education system needs an overhaul. There is no easy fix, but I will say this right now. School is an institution much like prison and mental facilities are institutions, and it feels so good to be free from them.

We can do much better with our education system, but will we?

Chris Jungle graduated magna cum laude in Political Science and drives a cab for a living.