Politics isn't for a high school classroom, unless it is a current events type of class.
I am going to start my rant now, so anyone who isn't interested skip this part.
The most important part of a high school education should not be to graduate. That's right, that's what I said. The whole point of secondary education was supposed to teach you skills that will benefit you at the next level. For people who aren't going on to college it was supposed to teach you basics for how to handle a job. Things like how to be on time, how to pay attention and work for 8 hours, and maybe a basic trade or skill depending on what you studied. Or for the college bound it is supposed to teach people how to study and work on their own, plus basic knowledge in order to build on at the higher education level.
Instead with the educational system turning into another unneeded government beaurcracy now the most important things are standardized test scores and graduation rates. These numbers are worthless IMO. All they do it narrow the scope of learning to a tighter field of knowledge, encourage cramming, stifle teacher creativity, and discourage anything but what is on the tests. With the emphasis on graduation rates this puts kids in the classroom that should not be there. Included in this group are kids who are disicpline problems, and people that will never graduate. All this does it take away valuable resources to the kids who are going to contribute meaningfully to society. Yes some people are not meant to graduate high school. I know it sounds harsh, but in every work force there is entry and basic employment, and people who don't have either the desire or the ability to be educated are the most likely people to fill these roles in society.
[/rant]