curriculum problems with grade school. For example, phonics is not used in many school systems and reading selections leave much to be desired. Likewise, history and geography are given short shrift. In our school district, cursive writing is no longer taught.

I've helped with a HS academic decathlon team and also teach 16/17 year olds in Sunday School. High school builds on the base of elementary school and I never ceased to be amazed at the inability of young people to read and understand what they have read; at their lack of understanding of basic geography, history, their lack of exposure to great works of art, literature and music.

At the beginning of my SS class, I play a piece of classical music on Youtube. During December, I always do a number of selections from Handel's Messiah. My students have never heard the pieces with the exception of the Hallelujah Chorus. Children are not too young in grade school to be exposed to great music and even Shakespeare.

Much of the above deficiencies could be greatly impacted with a well-grounded grade school curriculum.