Originally Posted by strelnik

Culture does have a lot to do with it. Besides, not everyone is capable of learninggeven though we want everyone to " succeed " and get a "degree". Remember what happened in the Wizard of Oz? The Wizard gave the Scarecrow a degree, oh boy, he's got everything he needs!

Plus, there are at least two, and I'm sure, many other, considerations:

1. Not everyone can learn. Some people either can't or are not willing to expend the effort.

2. There is the argument : "Why learn if I can become a rapper and make money talking about fake gangstas and my posse?" It doesn't matter if it's reality or not, as long as you get someone in more of a dream word than you are to believe it, buy the CD and make you richer than you were.

Learning is hard,. But like any skill, it has its rewards if you feel that they are rewards.

A lot of it is personal, some of it is genetic.

I once saw a little poster in a cubicle at the Pentagon, when I went there to teach a class.

It's a box of fries with a smiley on them and the caption: " Not everyone is cut out to be an astronaut..."