I was thinking more of the 1920’s standards. Al Smith governed NY and ran for President on a grade 8 education.
The more education became universal at higher levels, the more expectations were modified. 4th grade used to guarantee a certain facility in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The language entrance exams for Universities used to be quite rigorous. I doubt that there are a half-dozen high school graduates in the U.S. that could pass Cornell’s entrance examinations of the 1890’s. The combination of breadth and depth expected was phenomenal.
You can pick any standard you want and I believe that my point still applies. It takes a surprising little amount of work, if consistently done, to master material by the grade, for somebody,like this 13 year old, as long as that person treats it like a full time job.
I also agree that it was a mistake to make the assurance of graduating high school mandatory. Those unable to graduate should be trained in skilled labour if they cannot master a rigorous high school agenda. It has harmed us all.
If you an extra 15 minutes/day, that’s about an extra grade of material every 6 years, approximately.
If you an extra 15 minutes/day, that’s about an extra grade of material every 6 years, approximately.
Believe me, I wish I had understood that at his age.
Academia today is more focused on money and less on education.
Correct. They now purposely misteach both reading and writing so as to set average and below average students back hideously.
It is in part to dumb down our citizenry and in part to keep with the old union phrase of not “killing the job”.