Since when? I graduated HS in '04 and they were definitely teaching to the lowest common denominator at the time. Good ole NCLB. I wish they were teaching to the highest common denominator. It's better that the kids who are actually going to go on to higher education get a good foundation in high school than to set the bar low so that those who are just going back to the farm/McDonalds don't fail at anything.
I was a classic underachiever, none of the curriculum from elementary school onward was challenging enough and I never took school seriously because it was so dull. I got by with a C average by acing all the tests as I tended to skip school constantly and not bother with homework.
I really regret it now. Obviously, it's not just the school system's fault. I should have taken it more seriously, but I was a bored teenager. If the curriculum and been more engaging and challenging, I might have looked up from my books for more than correcting my teachers.
I'm thoroughly testing it, and thoroughly pleased. This is the first time in years I that I did not replace IE immediately. I've been using it for a couple weeks, now. One problem I eventually found is that Google Chrome won't install. IE has frozen several times (it's beta.) I hated Vista with a passion, but so far I am really happy with Windows 7.
Chrome installed without a problem for me, it was the first thing I did after installing 7 in a VM.
Polymer physicists are into chains.
