Most of the soldiers in WWII were what would be considered illiterate by today’s standards. They did a good job. Sometimes it may be the path for many of these guys so I am not opposed to the new rules.
Most soldiers in WWII could read, write, do math, knew American History, and loved America.
I can guarantee you that they knew their gender in 1942.
And a high school graduate in 42 knew English, Math, Science, and HISTORY at a level way beyond the typical diploma-bearing drone today. Not all of today’s kids, of course, but they give out diplomas just for showing up 50% of the time these days.
Can you back that up with something? Every educational standard I have seen from 1940 vastly exceeds today, it’s not even close.
Most of our WWII soldiers were NOT illiterate or even close.
I have a 7th grade Texas History textbook from that era, and it would be a tough book for most adults to use today. I have a math book from that era also, same story. I have a school text of farming methods from the 1920s, same story.
I don’t think you can back up that claim.
Kids don’t “flunk” out of high school. Actual retards pass through just fine. Kids drop out, or are kicked out for behavior issues or because they don’t show up, or because they are bored, or would rather (or need to) work. There are many underlying reasons, ranging from gang affiliation, to drugs, to plain boredom. Walt Disney, Richard Branson, Quentin Tarantino and a host of others dropped out for various reasons. One of my wealthiest and oldest friends is a high school drop out. His issue was he liked to fight.