I tend to agree.

When people ask me what I teach ( meaning subject matter or discipline) I respond "Thirteenth Grade". They usually laugh and then realize what it is that I'm really saying...

If it makes you feel any better, Professor, the country has been on its way to 3rd world status from the days when Ronald "Iran Contra" Reagan convinced conservatives that billionaires were deeply concerned about their well being and would make them all millionaires if only they (the rich) didn't have to pay those pesky taxes or abide by any regulations.

My college is limited but I've seen what you are talking about and I share your concern. For one thing today, every spare minute is spent texting. Even the ones who tell you not to do it are texting. Everybody is looking down and smiling at their phone. Schools and colleges, the workplace, and even the military go through this. If this is how kids learn anything I'm sure a lot is left out. The only hope we have as a nation is that all the rest of the world could be doing it also. America is going through a great "dumbing down" that needs to stop.

I'm a college professor, too. I find that if I provide exemplar papers and good directions my students do very well on written assignments.

You are correct . A part of the problem is that chemicals used to grow foods have been found even in milk from nursing mothers . They're being poisoned , beginning while they are fetuses . For instance , a weed killer is sprayed on grains , before they are mowed , to kill the crop , which makes it easier to mow them down and is easier on the machinery , thereby saving the cost of repairing/replacing , the cutting blades . Thus a chemical such as , "Round Up ," is coating the graines , used to bake bread , cakes, pies , cereals , etc. As the mother eats these daily foods , she ingests the poisons , which then shows up in the fetuses as they are being formed . When you poison any living creature from conception on , on a daily basis , it does damage to any living thing . So yes , over all , our poisoned children are not learning at the same rates as previous generations .

Though not a teacher, I too come across this problem.

Your right common sense like the common frog is a very rare creature and we are doomed.

Clearly they need more participation trophies to boost their self esteem and confidence