High School, for me, was four years of monotony sometimes bordering on. We had tired, graffitied textbooks that taught nothing relevant like the genesis of political movements and economic situations — we just memorized useless dates and factoids.

However, I think this is just luck and not a function of place. I spoke to a Parisian recently who said in one of his high school classes they were required to memorize the names of a particular King’s many mistresses, 56 or so in all if I remember correctly. I had to admit he trumped me on the list complaint.

Unfortunately, RE/Search doesn’t have a DVD of it and it apparently is shown only on local SF cable, so it might be hard to track down.

You had access to some great minds that you could have tapped for real quotes to provide the reader with some fresh insights AND ALSO a screening and all you write is the same tired lines.

Admittedly it’s been a while since I was in high school, but Marx was required reading– by, I might add, a vehemently anti-commie Cuban expatriot teacher. We studied not only the writings, but their effect (positive and negative) on European history.