I wish the U.S. public schools would allow for specialization in certain skill sets, like trades or the arts. Right now everything is just general studies in nature unless you go to a private school of some type which are very expensive. They used to teach basic trade skills when I went to school, but due to lack of funding, these have been cut in a lot of public schools, as have the arts.

I was a substitute teacher for middle school age kids once right after retiring from military service. It was a most horrible experience. Most of them would not pay attention, had little interest in learning anything and had the worst manners. It was all I could do to contain the military man in me.