twenty years (NCES Fast Facts).

             Students receiving a broad range of education is another.

             common misconception. In a period of ten years from 1982 to.

             1992 the average number of vocational credits acquired by.

             graduating high school seniors dropped from 4.6 to 3.8. Also.

             seeing a drop in numbers was the average credits earned in.

             specific labor market preparation classes which includes,.

             agriculture, home economics and family consumer sciences, trade.

             and industrial, business, and law classes. Specific labor market.

             preparation classes which in 1982 filled out 2.9 of and average.

             students high school credits dropped to bleak 2.6 over ten years. .

             This shows that students are sticking more to the basic core classes.

             and college preparatory classes decreasing the overall knowledge.

             gained by the secondary education level student (NCES Fast.

             Facts).

             The last false observation noted in this paper is that students.

             are learning things at earlier ages than in the past. This fact is true.

             in some cases such as in technology and English, but in math.

             classes children start at an average level of learning and over the.

             course of elementary and junior high tend to drop below average.

             (Children). These drops are believed to be caused by students who.

             learn certain subjects in one grade and then the same subjects may.

             be covered in the next grade causing the student to become bored.

             and uninterested in the material (Newcomb, 11).

             Recently it was noticed that the science skills of students.

             between the fourth and eighth grade have dropped into what some.

             call a slump. However, according to Dr. Gerald K. LeTendre, an.

             assistant professor of education at Penn State, the drop is not due.

             to a recent change in circumstances, but instead it is due to what.

             Dr. LeTendre refers to as a "continuation of low gains from year to.

             year." "This continuation of low gains from year to year has.

             continued for over twenty years and will keep dropping unless.