How is it that most junior Soldiers claim to have never heard of Colin Powell or Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr?

Civics is no longer required for graduation from High School. Neither is going deep to understand the issues of today. I always wanted to know something about why I was deployed.

it’s just time turning hoss, these kids don’t know history, most of em don’t know their own much less military history or the countrys history. The machine doesn’t encourage them to learn any more than is required to pass standard tests

If it isn't related to entertainment, then most Americans don't know it.

Because important previously required academic subjects have been slowly and systematically removed from the curriculum. The administrators and teachers in our Education System, from Grade School through Colleges and Universities, are mostly Liberal and progressive far left democrats and very, very "Politically Correct." The BS started in the early 60's with segregation of schools and bussing of students. And, in most Colleges and Universities, students are far more interested in where the next party is than their GPA. The following would be a start for a fix; GET RID OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND RETURN CONTROL TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATES. QUIT GRADING ON A CURVE AND RAISE THE STANDARDS BACK TO PRE-1960 LEVELS. DRAMATICALLY INCREASE DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, YEAR AROUND SCHEDULES, UNIFORMS, AND PHYSICAL TRAINING CLASSES, GET RID OF ALL THE TRIVIAL SUBJECTS AND TEACH MUCH MORE HISTORY GEOGRAPHY AND READING COMPREHENSION. DEMAND STUDENTS APPLY THEMSELVES OR MOVE THEM TO A STRICTLY CONTROLLED TRADE SCHOOL SO THEY CAN AT LEAST LEARN A SKILL THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A JOB AND KEEP THEM OFF THE WELFARE ROLES.

Our school system was good until the Liberal US Government, (John and Bobby Kennedy) and the ACLU/NAACP got involved. Over the years since, schools have been integrated even when parents of all races did not want integration. (Kids on Busses 2-4 hours a day) Also, the academic standards have been systemically lowered over the last 30 years. Presently, they are lowered to the point of stupidity, and no longer challenge the average student; which creates excessive boredom in the school environment. This is absolutely true. I watched it happen. (In 1962 I was a 101st Airborne MP on the steps of "Ole Miss" when Mississippi defied the law by not letting Mr. Meredith enroll in Mississippi State.) If I had school age kids today, they would be sent to a private school or home schooled.

I went to a one room country schoolhouse in Eaton County Michigan that was heated with a Coal burning pot-belly stove and no inside plumbing. Yes, we used “Outhouses” that were freezing in the winter and smelled terrible in the summer, but we got an education. In fact, I would put any of our students from the Eighth Grade up against most High School Graduates today. We studied Math, (add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers/decibels/fractions/memorized the multiplication tables/geometry, English and English Lit, World and US Geography, American and World History, Civics, and a host of other topics picked by our teacher. K thru 8th Grade was all in the same room. The Teacher would call each grade to a long bench in the front of the room and cover specific lessons/topics for the day. If one cared to listen, all of us got exposed to everyone else’s lessons. It was fun to listen to what the “Big Kids” were learning, and it peaked everyone’s curiosity level.
Remember, this was between 1946 and 1955. There were no electronic aides of any kind, not even TV. One actually had to learn how to write in legible cursive with real Ink. (That’s a real Bitch when one is left-handed).

I could not afford to go to College, so I joined the Army in 1961 and really didn’t keep up with what was happening to America’s education system. However, the last three years, (1979-80-81) I was an Army Recruiting Station Commander of a 6 man station on the north side of Flint, Michigan. It was required to recruit in all of the High Schools in that area. As Station Commander I visited all the schools multiple times. To say the least, I got a very rude awaking. Schools then, and even more so today, lack discipline. Teachers get little or no respect; parents seldom attend any conferences or meetings with teachers, and most are looking for a way to sue the school district. From school administrators to the lowest paid school employee, most are paranoid and politically correct to the point of being completely ludicrous. I fear that without some serious intervention, American Students are just going to get dumber and dumber until we do not have enough educated people to keep America alive. Hopefully, President Trump and his administration will correct this huge issue.

Because important previously required academic subjects have been slowly and systematically removed from the curriculum. The administrators and teachers in our Education System, from Grade School through Colleges and Universities, are mostly Liberal and progressive far left democrats and very, very "Politically Correct." The BS started in the early 60's with segregation of schools and bussing of students. And, in most Colleges and Universities, students are far more interested in where the next party is than their GPA. The following would be a start for a fix; GET RID OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND RETURN CONTROL TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATES. QUIT GRADING ON A CURVE AND RAISE THE STANDARDS BACK TO PRE-1960 LEVELS. DRAMATICALLY INCREASE DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, YEAR AROUND SCHEDULES, UNIFORMS, AND PHYSICAL TRAINING CLASSES, GET RID OF ALL THE TRIVIAL SUBJECTS AND TEACH MUCH MORE HISTORY GEOGRAPHY AND READING COMPREHENSION. DEMAND STUDENTS APPLY THEMSELVES OR MOVE THEM TO A STRICTLY CONTROLLED TRADE SCHOOL SO THEY CAN AT LEAST LEARN A SKILL THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A JOB AND KEEP THEM OFF THE WELFARE ROLES.

Our school system was good until the Liberal US Government, (John and Bobby Kennedy) and the ACLU/NAACP got involved. Over the years since, schools have been integrated even when parents of all races did not want integration. (Kids on Busses 2-4 hours a day) Also, the academic standards have been systemically lowered over the last 30 years. Presently, they are lowered to the point of stupidity, and no longer challenge the average student; which creates excessive boredom in the school environment. This is absolutely true. I watched it happen. (In 1962 I was a 101st Airborne MP on the steps of "Ole Miss" when Mississippi defied the law by not letting Mr. Meredith enroll in Mississippi State.) If I had school age kids today, they would be sent to a private school or home schooled.

I went to a one room country schoolhouse in Eaton County Michigan that was heated with a Coal burning pot-belly stove and no inside plumbing. Yes, we used “Outhouses” that were freezing in the winter and smelled terrible in the summer, but we got an education. In fact, I would put any of our students from the Eighth Grade up against most High School Graduates today. We studied Math, (add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers/decibels/fractions/memorized the multiplication tables/geometry, English and English Lit, World and US Geography, American and World History, Civics, and a host of other topics picked by our teacher. K thru 8th Grade was all in the same room. The Teacher would call each grade to a long bench in the front of the room and cover specific lessons/topics for the day. If one cared to listen, all of us got exposed to everyone else’s lessons. It was fun to listen to what the “Big Kids” were learning, and it peaked everyone’s curiosity level.
Remember, this was between 1946 and 1955. There were no electronic aides of any kind, not even TV. One actually had to learn how to write in legible cursive with real Ink. (That’s a real Bitch when one is left-handed).

I could not afford to go to College, so I joined the Army in 1961 and really didn’t keep up with what was happening to America’s education system. However, the last three years, (1979-80-81) I was an Army Recruiting Station Commander of a 6 man station on the north side of Flint, Michigan. It was required to recruit in all of the High Schools in that area. As Station Commander I visited all the schools multiple times. To say the least, I got a very rude awaking. Schools then, and even more so today, lack discipline. Teachers get little or no respect; parents seldom attend any conferences or meetings with teachers, and most are looking for a way to sue the school district. From school administrators to the lowest paid school employee, most are paranoid and politically correct to the point of being completely ludicrous. I fear that without some serious intervention, American Students are just going to get dumber and dumber until we do not have enough educated people to keep America alive. Hopefully, President Trump and his administration will correct this huge issue.

Two things: one, they are not on any of their video games; second, our education systems are only teaching political correct subjects that avoid what is, to the system, nonessential.

When I was in the Army, I knew who Patton was, heck, I knew who some of the top generals were in WWl. I was taught in school. The current divide and animosity toward the military by the education system is at fault.

I recall during Basic 1964 we had to attend U S history classes (staying awake was not easy). Then with 7th Army Germany were had mandatory class on the Army in Europe WW 1 & 2. Plus tour of battlefields and graveyards.

When you address him it is Mr. Lastname. When you respond to him it is Sir.

When I was in the Army, in 1999 or 2000, I went with a group of soldiers, all of us in our early 20s to the 6th floor museum in Dallas. They had a display that dealt with Cuba. The soldiers with me knew who Elian Gonzalez is, but not Fidel Castro. I actually asked where they had gone to school. So unfortunately, it's not a new phenomenon.