[Larry Lucido]

Correct me if I am wrong. While I am sure academia was more rigorous, a majority (or at least a significant minority) of school age children might not have made it TO eighth grade, let alone PAST eighth grade.

I don’t know whether we can reliably extrapolate from this that kids were generally more knowledgeable then, than now.

[Sacajaweau]

You're absolutely right. SOME went to excellent schools but the curriculum was not consistent. The majority of kids worked on their fathers farm...and after a little bit of schooling, many became apprentices at about age 14. Reading and writing was enough to be an apprentice...if that.

The world was totally different back then and so was the school system. Look at who and what professions were considered "educated" back then.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I don’t know whether we can reliably extrapolate from this that kids were generally more knowledgeable then, than now.^^^^^^^^^^^^

I don’t think that’s the point. The point isn’t necessarily that kids were more knowledgeable back then, it’s that schools actually taught back then.

These days, schools indoctrinate instead of teach.