the schooling system isn't much better in the UK either! We have just been informed that our 12 year old son, will have to decide this year, which subjects he wants to take his exams in when he is 16! How does a 12 year old know what he wants to do when he is 16! usually this decision is made when they are 14, which is still a push in my opinion, but 12! crazy! There reasons for doing this is because it gives the teachers, sorry the students (ahem) more time to learn the information they need to pass the exams. I wish schools could be more student focused, but they have targets to meet and I guess at the end of the day they are a business... :/