[Zpower]

Actually I have to disagree with wavemaster. That would only result in MORE people dropping out as vf stated. Also what makes you think they will want to learn a trade.. when they dont even wont to learn how to read and write or answer a few math questions. Its not up to the goverment to MAKE children learn its up to the children. Sure we could make getting jobs harder without a highschool diploma. Though if we did what would that accomplish... hmm how about MORE poverty than there already is.
To get kids interested in learning school work we must find ways to make it INTERESTING to kids that is. If some kid ACTUALLY was interested in MATH they would succeed in math. Same goes for anything eles. Take a kid who plays video games 24 hrs a day. The kid is intrested in the video game he wants to see what his character will do.. how the story will unfold and what he can accomplish. Now some video games of today require atleast some train of thought to master them. Why not put that effort into learning enlish grammar , or math. See we must not make SCHOOL HARDER rather SCHOOL MORE INTERESTING. American kids have SO MUCH OTHER things to find INTERESTING that school work clearly falls to the way side.
So in closing the educational system in America as far as "material, degrees, exams... ect.." are fine. We just need to find a way to make these things more interesting.