CFM,

No, not as a required course anyway. If a school can afford to offer it as an elective, then that's fine. However, it's not the primary responsibility of public education to ensure that every child knows how to "play" every elective sport or game someone might think important.

The purpose of the public schools is to teach children how to learn so that they might make their way in this world as adult citizens. That no longer requires the specific skills of hunting and fishing, altho hunting and fishing are certainly attributes that enhance many lifestyles. As does football, basketball, etc. Public schools have already been saddled with many requirements that cut in to "learning how to learn" the basic skills necessary for successful living. Of course, that drags in the topic of critical parenting that doesn't get done on behalf of all too many kids - and become a whole 'nuther thread.

Then again, it would be nice to have an abundant supply of very young kids, with their excellent eyesight, tying those size 18 and 20 flies for us oldtimers who can barely thread them on a leader, even with coke-bottle reading glasses!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.