I'm going to take this thread in a related direction and discuss the issue of why the basics or even our over-all educational system has suffered.

To me it is no circumstance our educational system is in the state it is in. Things happen for a reason. If the powers that be wanted the educational system to be top notch the money would be there the same as it is for our defense budget. I have always maintained the reason things have gone down hill at an ever increasing pace is because the powers that be want it that way. After-all if you were a captain of industry and a super rich dude you want to be able to control the political process and have your people running things in Govt. Would you want a highly educated electorate, people who can analyze facts, consider history make valid conclusions about who to vote for? Maybe you want stupid folks who will believe what they are told be it true or not. Folks who will decide who to vote for on one issue and who can be easily manipulated and directed.

There will always be the privileged who will get the education to do the technical things and be trained to take over the future but for the masses out there...well...