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Unless you're planning a career as a historian, learning any language other than your own decently is way the hell too much work for anybody to want to be learning DEAD ones.

Same for learning about vacuum tubes. Nobody uses them anymore, but the theory is the basis for field effect transistors, which are everywhere.

Not to rag on her, but Wendy gives us a glimpse of why this article is just wishful thinking.

Without a central core, there would be a (large, I think) percentage of well-meaning parents out there who would cheat their kids out of the basics and perhaps give them a "good Snopes-based" superficial education.

The article mentions the classic education of the classic theological texts...ahem...but that was due to the central education institution of THE CHURCH.

Government schools are not the best, but they are typical of a large one-size-fits-all institution.

The one-size-fits-all Church was not all that good for an engineering education back in the day, either. (Ask Galileo!)

Same for learning about vacuum tubes. Nobody uses them anymore, but the theory is the basis for field effect transistors, which are everywhere. Not to rag on her, but Wendy gives us a glimpse of why this article is just wishful thinking. Without a central core, there would be a (large, I think) percentage of well-meaning parents out there who would cheat their kids out of the basics and perhaps give them a "good Snopes-based" superficial education. The article mentions the classic education of the classic theological texts...ahem...but that was due to the central education institution of THE CHURCH. Government schools are not the best, but they are typical of a large one-size-fits-all institution. The one-size-fits-all Church was not all that good for an engineering education back in the day, either. (Ask Galileo!)

I do not oppose a 'core' basic education. I have two children that have earned college degrees. One is in law school and the other is currently working on a PhD in electrical engineering. My third child at this point is not interested in attending college... teaches beginning piano and has a retail job.

All three of my children would say that at least one half of their time in public school was 'wasted' time. The 'core' was 'socialization' in fundraising and special classes in situation ethics. It was what I required of my children outside of the classrooms that kept their focus on building upon the 'core basic' information from which to move to higher education.

Thank the Dear LORD, all my children are adults now and I do not have to deal with public education. One year in eighth grade one of my children had three different math books, none of which were allowed out of the classroom. The math class was about teaching to take a state required test so the district would have great numbers.

After the presidential election of 2008, I heard a liberal trying to be JonStewart, brag that the overwhelming majority of 40 and under college educated voters, voted for BamBamKennedy.... Wonder how many of this crowd are now surviving from unemployment stipends?