I think the central focus of the last two years of high school is to somewhat help in what field you go into university and therefore your career.

I agree with the last post...high school should give an opportunity for personal growth. I didn't even decide what I wanted to do until this year!

I am currently in an education program where I will graduate to be a high school teacher. It has taken me many years to understand this, but being prepared for a job in the real world isn't one of the highest priorities in my opinion. Although all high school students think about getting a job or going on to post-secondary education after school, there is so much more to learn before you graduate. As a soon-to-be teacher, I want to teach my students way more, including: self-confidence, the joy of learning, the process of life-long learning, problem solving skills, respect, a desire to serve, a greater understanding of the work around them, sustainable development, friendship, etc. School is more than a place to prepare for a job, it is a place to grow and become a greater person with greater understanding and knowledge about oneself and the world. I think that if things like caring, dedication, motivation, self-confidence, and the like are taught in high schools, being good at a future job will just come. Granted, some kind of experience and knowledge might be needed, but who wants to hire someone who is extremely qualified, but will never show up for shifts or has no people skills to speak of?