Critical Mass

Well, that's not exactly what the folks over at OpinionJournal are arguing, but they do make a case similar to it. The writers assert liberal lifestyles in college (and by liberal I mean how one acts regarding sex, drugs, alcohol, etc., not necessarily one's political views) tend to lessen the amount of actual learning taking place; while the same is true in high school, students there are often focused on presenting a good college application, or at least are forced to behave by their parents, to the point that high school students are forced to gain actual knowledge:

[C]ollege increasingly offers a crazed social experience at the expense of rigorous study. But high school does better: It is often the last time that students are forced to learn something. Parents make their kids show up at school. More than a few teachers convey basic skills and knowledge. After-school life centers on burnishing a college application, not binge drinking. AP courses, where they exist, exploit these structured years for maximum learning.

Critics will say that "rat race" kids no longer play soccer for the joy of the game or master the violin for the beauty of the music or study history for the love of learning. Maybe. But who cares? At least something worthwhile is going on. These kids have four years of college ahead of them during which they may take as few classes as they like in subjects that require no difficult exams. They can spend their time outside the classroom drinking and "dating." They can opt out of the rat race, and they do.

Be sure to read the full story. I'm not sure I buy the whole theory, but it is an interesting concept.