[Nyghthawk]

Without getting too far into the weeds here, I hope. About 20 years ago public schools started to be focused on teaching to a standardized test of one kind or another. Teaching kids to write effectively (if at all) and to think critically went out the window as there was no time for such. Consequently universities had to put in what amounts to remedial coursework to get high school graduates to even be able to do that level of work. Fine arts (read art, music, etc.) went out the window altogether.

Universities became glorified tech schools instead of "universal" educational institutions. They are sold as employment preparatory schools to a generation that has never been taught the value of knowledge for its own sake.