Let me start by saying, if you relied on the television show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" to indicate whether or not our school systems are successfully teaching our youth, you might be misled into believing they are and that No Child Left Behind actually worked! I give them credit, these kids are smart! But I am a bit cynical when watching the show. First of all, I think they picked the most elite of all 5th graders known to man. They are all probably students from the gifted and talented programs who have tested out of grades 5-12. Most of them are probably receiving college credit already. I will admit, I may be a little bitter because these kids continue to outsmart me week after week. However, I believe knowledge is somewhat like a vacation day at work. You either use it or you lose it. There comes a time in your life when nothing, absolutely nothing requires you to know where the first Inca civilization was located or the name of the ship that brought the pilgrims here. I wonder...after this knowledge is no longer being beaten into these 5th graders heads....how much will they really know? 
Am I at age 24 smarter than these kids in 5th grade? No. Was I in 5th grade as smart as these 5th graders? Probably not. Am I at age 24 smarter than these 5th graders will be at age 24? Maybe! Those little sponges can only absorb for so long. Soon these children will realize that at age 24 knowing trivial things such as whether or not the ostrich is the fastest bird, is useless unless you're on game show or by chance actually being chased by one. After they come to this realization these children will then divert their attention elsewhere and learn more important things like what "No Stopping During Rush Hour" signs mean. So I challenge you little 5th graders. Come see me in 12 years and then we'll see how smart you are. I'm willing to put money on the fact that the cops in Lakewood won't care if you can tell them the largest country in South America. You will still get a ticket if you park in a No Stopping zone.
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