Of course he could be, and taught arithmetic, basic oral and written communication skills, and a lot more besides.
We were discussing eleventh and twelfth grade. Persons with IQs of 85 and below CANNOT reasonably be expected to do trig, physics, complex grammar and declensions, or reason abstractly. They also cannot reasonably be expected to smile when repeated failure is thrown in their faces, or when they are congratulated for work they know is inadequate.
Entrance exams for high school would solve a lot of these problems.
Yes. Some were discussing 11th and 12th grade, but they weren't discussing trigonometry (though I'm pretty sure I could teach any kid essential trig, but 800-me wouldn't be allowed to teach because I'm not "certified"). We were discussing reading and literacy. If a kid is illiterate when he "graduates" high school, I doubt he was much of a reader in fourth grade. Get it?
ML/NJ