It would be hard to teach high school students to think like economists
since there is a time constraint. A year's course in economics can give you
the basics but it not transform them to homo economicus-es.
Depends on the student and teacher! Last summer, as a rising senior in high school, I took a three-week course in micro under Professor Allen Sanderson at the University of Chicago. Please don't scoff when I say that in those three weeks I learned to appreciate economics and economic rationality very thoroughly indeed -- so thoroughly that I joined a mailing list about it. (And can follow the discussions!)
Mind you, I don't claim that any student under any teacher can become as enthused about economics as I did last summer. If all high school economics teachers were as fascinating as Professor Sanderson, we wouldn't even need to have this discussion! But I've no doubt that a decent teacher with an inquisitive pupil can accomplish a lot in a year.
--Brian
