And in truth, it probably IS too hard for them, because the greatest failure in our education system is happening in K -12, especially elementary school, because if they aren’t achieving at grade level in 6th, it just gets worse in jr. high and high school.
You are right; they are “socially promoted” through the grades while falling further and further behind. It is impossible for a middle-aged person to compare his/her experience with these younger people because while our education wasn’t perfect, most of them have really had none at all.
Social promotion condemns the lazy / slow learners to future failure.