I just retired from 36 years in the classroom and I could not agree more. I taught in the inner city for the past 6 years. Most of my students could not only not read, they couldn't understand basic math, read an analog clock, and they knew almost nothing about geography or history. Ask them about the hottest new rapper or the newest video game and they know it. Ask they how to bypass the ignition system on a Kia and they can do that too.