<p>“Andrew Abbott in his hypothetical experiment posed an interesting alternative to the typical four year college curriculum, perhaps some one will try it.”</p>
<p>I know homeschoolers all over the country who have participated in this “experiment”, with excellent results. I know a few who have gone to law school and engineering school, without college degrees. I know of two in Ph.D. programs. I know many who have started businesses and non-profits, published books, written music for motion pictures and become screenwriters, and contributed back to their communities.</p>
<p>I would rewrite the question - it is the overselling of high school that is the real problem. Leon Botstein, the Pres. of Bard, notes that the pattern of American high schools hasn’t changed in more than a hundred years even as, at a very basic level, youth are sexually mature a full three years earlier than they were in 1900. He sees absolutely no reason why a normal, average, healthy child with a decent elementary education shouldn’t be ready to enter college at 14 or 15, and has put his money where his mouth is, with Bard’s program in NYC. The program takes youth - not gifted ones, mind you, and not wealthy ones - just those who have demonstrated they are willing to do the work - and given them a full college curriculum at ages 14 and 15, and they are doing just fine.</p>