I think that's exactly right. The quality of American education started to decline the moment we forgot that the primary responsibility for educating our kids lies with their parents and only then with school teachers. As a matter of fact, a whole lot of other things started to slip when we abdicated personal responsibility in favor of government care and security...
You are correct which is why we homeschool.
Look up what NZ did several years ago with public schools..... Free market, parents determine where the kids go and the tax dollars. NZ went from last in the region to 2nd in 6 years by a lot of metrics. Funny things happen when parent and taxpayers make decisions not unions and government employees.
You make a good point. My older brother and I attended a Lutheran private grade school and made excellent grades . Through eight grades we ‘learned’ everything from hygene to the Constitution. However, when I reflect on those days the teacher was showing us what we should ‘learn’. It was up to us to absorb and be educated. When we let the education slip our mother(4th grade education) always showed us the way back, sometimes not to our liking.
You make a good point. My older brother and I attended a Lutheran private grade school and made excellent grades . Through eight grades we ‘learned’ everything from hygene to the Constitution. However, when I reflect on those days the teacher was showing us what we should ‘learn’. It was up to us to absorb and be educated. When we let the education slip our mother(4th grade education) always showed us the way back, sometimes not to our liking.
The longer I live the more certain I am that this is parents' job one.
But I go beyond that. In my experience, sixteen years of conventional schooling (assuming it's competent and consistent) is simply a preparation. Learning is a lifelong task and having the tools to engage in citizenship is a great start. That's all formal education is.
Reading is the best gift that can be given by parents and a formal education.