Are High School Seniors Too Dumb For College?

I can understand why many elementary school children don't learn. I worked with a 4th and 2nd grade teacher. By the time the teachers handed out work the children barely had time to finish because the teacher had to move on to something else or it was lunch or break time. Second grade children were writing with pencil stubs; I bought a box gave them to the teacher, she just put them in her desk. I would make children sharpen their pencils before starting their work. When in elementary school number one rule was to sharpen your pencil. In 4th grade pencils were only used for math. Between going in and out of the building took too much time away from class work. Administration were much to blame demanding quantity, not quality; teachers were rushed. I took 4th grade students who fell behind into the school library and brought their skills up very quickly. It was shocking to see 4th graders who could not print or do script correctly. There is another issue. Problem behavior students who disrupt classes. No matter how modern school buildings are problem students are disruptive and destructive. Too much time is spent on slow learners, not fair to quick learners. More money is spent on slow students then those with higher IQ's who learn fast. I came up with an idea to have a special school for high school age and junior high age students who are constant problems and not learning. Suspension, detention is a waste of time. They get into trouble on the streets and are not learning anything. These special buildings would be no frill, no sports, more strict, more counseling. They would stay in this school setting until their behavior changed and their skills brought up to grade level. Teachers and students who want to learn should not have to put up with bullies and non learners. Towns and cities who have too many problem students should have such special schools. They will be off the street in a classroom learning. This would take very qualified teachers. Their clothing privileges should be taken away. They should be made to wear special shirts. They should be shamed which often works. Hitting does not work. If they are shunned by students in the regular school they would shape up. Once they do they can then go back to their regular school. Very dangerous problem kids should be checked for mental illness and home abuse. No students should feel danger from other students. The police might have to get involved.
Too many two year colleges are taking students just for the money. They have also offered courses that are not required courses. This problem has grown worse over the last century. Getting into colleges only because of being good at sports should be cut out completely. Grades have to come first. You cannot mix slow learners with smarter children starting in elementary schools. It is not fair to either group.

Yes and No, it impossible to generalize. Some of the youths are well prepared and ready, some are ill prepared and have ACT's, SAT's in the sub-zero range. I believe the 25% figure, just look at society. Schools are an abomination and the teachers unions and the teachers themselves are at fault. We will accept the lowest common denominator and settle for less.

I teach at a medical university and 25% of the student do not need remedial math, science, English and other core classes, that leaves the student at least 75% are a full year extra for graduation and 15% of the students will drop out and never re enter the education field again. The kids today are the most entitled people ever, they just want grades because they show up to class once or twice. They all go running to the Dean of my department when I flunk them in their first semester, and I flunk about 30% + or -. The Dean just tells them clearly that if you do not attend classes, take the required tests and have a proper attitude... you will not get a passing grade from Dr. Me. It usually takes one semester with a non-passing grade for the students to get it and understand the requirements which are all clearly stated in the class syllabus.

It took me almost 30 years to finish my education, I worked for those 30 years and finally went back to college to finish my Ph.D. this year with a 3.25 GPA not too bad for a 63 year old man.