The public schools have never been bastions of educational excellence. Americans were complaining about them from their first day. Obviously, they’re getting worse. In my own case, I was helped by shows like Sesame Street, Zoom, and The Electric Company, as well as my mother teaching me to read. If not for them, I can’t imagine how little I’d know.
When I was little my grandma would watch me when my parents were at work and she taught me how to read, I have no memory of it.
If she hadn’t I may have been illiterate to this day cause they sure as hell weren’t doing a very good job teaching it in kindergarten and 1st grade.
I don’t recall anything more than the most basic stuff being taught till 3rd or 4th grade.
I remember all through 2nd grade they made us do color by numbers. And the math problems were 2+5 and stuff like like, ridiculous. The tedious coloring was harder. I’m sure it’s gotta even worse since then. Today’s 8th graders are probably learning what my mom’s generation learned in the earliest grades.
And then in HS they bury you in homework.
The poor kids in year-round school (called Track E here in Chicago) went back last week. Lucky for them the heatwave ended before they got back.
The whole system needs to be reexamined.