Let’s be honest. They no longer have to learn spelling and grammar for the same reasons they no longer have to learn or understand math. It’s too hard for the teachers to teach, most of whom don’t know anything, either. Teachers are owned by their plantationist unions who couldn’t care less about kids anywhere, or anything other than their own enrichment. And the democrat loving unions controlling the schools have only one education agenda: to turn out illiterates who know only how to vote for democrats.
If the teachers are “certified” and had to jump through the hoops of the completely useless “Education Department” of any college or university, you are correct. Pair that with how hard it is to fire incompetent teachers because of tenure and it’s a recipe for complete disaster. What needs to happen is for these departments to be abolished. Those wanting to teach others need to be masters in their subject matter. No excuses. No exceptions. Ban the unions and tenure as well. THEN — and ONLY then — would you begin to see the state of education in this land rise.