By the end of high school kids are sick of school. National Public Radio reports that more and more are taking a gap year before starting college. It may be a good idea -- see what you think.

Apparently this is an idea which has been popular in Europe for some time. Some college officials think it's fine. Swarthmore College requires kids to write an essay on why they want the time and what they will do with it. Some parents are happy to foot the bill for that, rather than let a kid who is not ready for college waste a full year's tuition. But it doesn't have to cost a lot. Students could intern with a state representative or work in a national service program.

National Public Radio interviewed kids who had made unusual choices: helping to rehabilitate wild penguins, sled-dog training, conservation research, intensive martial arts classes, volunteer work with baby baboons. It also addressed a list to kids, of "Signs You Need a Gap Year" -- it's instructive. StudyBuddy sees the signs too often.

• You love learning, but can't face another term paper
• The idea of having to choose a major fills you with dread
• Life feels like a treadmill, and you're only 18

and many more.

NPR's source was an outfit called Interim Programs.

You may want to check it out. It offers the scenarios of five individual kids, who are quite different and challenging. One of them hates school. One of them dislikes adventure. All of them managed to find their feet by taking a year off.

You might also want to listen to the four-minute NPR show online.

Let us hear from you.