Johnny Can't Read

The Decline in Educational Standards

One of the most pressing issues in the decay of modern society is the decline in educational standards, a problem that’s being felt across the Western world. Education has always been seen as the great equalizer, the key to advancement, both for individuals and for society at large. But in recent years, particularly in the United States and parts of Europe, the quality of education has been steadily declining. And the fallout from this is now impossible to ignore.

For generations, Western countries have prided themselves on having some of the world’s best education systems. Schools in the U.S., U.K., and Germany were known for producing graduates who excelled in everything from science and math to literature and philosophy. But today, we’re seeing stagnation, and in many cases, outright declines in these key areas. Students are leaving school without basic literacy or math skills, and perhaps even more troubling, they’re struggling to think critically. This erosion of educational quality isn’t just showing up in test scores; it’s showing up in how people engage with information and how they function in society.

A Look at the Numbers

To understand the problem, let’s look at the numbers. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) regularly publishes data on the state of education in the U.S., and the trends are disturbing. According to the 2022 NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) report, reading and math scores for 9-year-olds dropped significantly following the pandemic. Average math scores fell by 5 points, and reading scores dropped by 7 points, putting them at their lowest levels in three decades. The National Education Association (NEA) warns that this kind of setback could take years to recover from, if recovery is even possible given the steady decline in performance across all areas of our public education.

This isn’t an isolated issue. Across Europe, similar patterns are emerging. The OECD’s PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests show that students in countries like the U.K. and France are underperforming in key subjects like reading, math, and science compared to previous generations. In the 2018 PISA report, U.S. students ranked 13th in reading and a troubling 37th in math among developed nations, a sign that Western education systems are falling behind on the global stage.

The COVID-19 Impact: A Lost Generation?

A major factor accelerating this decline has been the COVID-19 pandemic. When schools shut down in 2020, millions of students were forced to transition to remote learning, and the impact was severe, particularly for students in lower-income families who lacked access to reliable internet or technology. According to a McKinsey report published in 2021, U.S. students lost an average of five months of math learning and four months of reading during the pandemic. But for students of color, the losses were even greater—closer to six to twelve months of academic setbacks.

It wasn’t just about lost classroom time; it was about the loss of a structured learning environment and the ability to develop social skills at a critical time of their lives. Remote learning made it harder for students to stay engaged and focused, and many kids simply checked out. The New York Times reported in 2021 that chronic absenteeism skyrocketed, with some districts seeing as many as 30% of students disengage completely from online schooling. In the long term, these missed months of in-person education are likely to have a lasting impact on academic achievement and social development.

A Shift from Rigor to Ideology

Even before the pandemic, there was already a noticeable shift in many Western education systems from rigorous academic standards to more ideologically driven curricula. In the past, schools focused on building strong foundations in core subjects like math, reading, and science. The emphasis was on developing critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication. But today, much of that focus has shifted.

Instead of challenging students with rigorous academic work, many schools are increasingly spending time on topics like identity politics, social justice, and other issues that, while important, don’t necessarily teach students how to think critically. The balance has tipped. Rather than education being about learning how to think, it’s often about teaching what to think. When this happens, students lose the ability to analyze information, think independently, and challenge assumptions.

A 2019 survey by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni found that only 18% of U.S. colleges require students to take a basic course in American history or government. Many colleges have also reduced their requirements for math and science. This shift away from foundational subjects means that students are graduating without the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Critical Thinking: The Missing Piece

One of the biggest casualties of this educational decline is the loss of critical thinking skills. Schools used to prioritize teaching students how to evaluate information, think independently, and approach problems with an open mind. But today, students are often handed pre-packaged answers, and critical thinking is sidelined.

This has real-world consequences. Take a look at how people engage with information in today’s world. In the age of social media, many people struggle to separate fact from opinion or truth from misinformation. The rise of conspiracy theories, fake news, and the inability to engage in civil discourse is in part a reflection of the fact that many people simply don’t have the tools to analyze the information they’re bombarded with daily.

In a 2021 study by Stanford University, researchers found that over two-thirds of high school students couldn’t tell the difference between a news article and an advertisement, showing how ill-equipped many young people are to navigate the digital landscape. This inability to think critically makes people vulnerable to manipulation—whether it’s from media, politics, or even advertisers.

STEM Decline: Losing Ground Globally

Another area where Western education is faltering is in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and math. For decades, the U.S. and Europe led the world in producing top scientists, engineers, and innovators. But today, that’s no longer the case. According to the 2021 Global Innovation Index, the U.S. now ranks 6th, behind countries like South Korea and Switzerland.

At the same time, countries like China and India are making major investments in STEM education. In 2016, China awarded 1.3 million STEM degrees, compared to just 568,000 in the United States. The National Science Foundation reports that the U.S. is seeing a significant decline in the number of students pursuing STEM degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This trend poses a serious risk to the country’s global competitiveness, as technological innovation is increasingly driving the economy.

Writing Skills: A Lost Art?

Writing is another area where students are struggling. For generations, the ability to write clearly and persuasively was one of the hallmarks of a well-rounded education. But today, many students are leaving school without even basic writing skills. A 2017 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that only 42% of employers believed that recent graduates were proficient in writing, despite it being one of the most critical skills needed in the workplace.

The decline in writing isn’t just about poor grammar or spelling. It’s about the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively. Schools have shifted their focus away from teaching the mechanics of writing—grammar, structure, clarity—and toward more self-expression. While encouraging students to "find their voice" is important, it often comes at the expense of teaching them how to structure their thoughts into coherent, persuasive arguments.

How Did We Get Here?

So, how did we end up in this situation? Part of the issue stems from the de-emphasis on competition. In an effort to make education more inclusive, many schools have moved away from systems that rank students or reward excellence. Instead of challenging students to push themselves and meet high standards, the focus has shifted toward making sure everyone feels successful, even if they haven’t mastered the material. It’s the "everyone gets a trophy" mentality, and while it may make students feel good in the short term, it leaves them unprepared for the real world, where competition is fierce, and success must be earned.

This lowering of standards is also evident in college admissions. Many universities have dropped standardized testing requirements like the SAT or ACT in the name of increasing diversity. While this may have good intentions, it also lowers academic expectations and makes it harder to ensure that students are prepared for the rigors of higher education.

The Consequences: A Less Capable Workforce

The consequences of this educational decline are already becoming apparent. We’re seeing it in the workforce, where employers report that young graduates lack basic skills in writing, math, and problem-solving. We’re seeing it in society, where people struggle to engage in meaningful discussions and are more vulnerable to misinformation. And we’re seeing it on the global stage, where Western countries are losing ground to nations that prioritize education and invest in developing critical thinking and STEM skills.

A Call to Action

Education is supposed to be the great equalizer, the foundation for opportunity and advancement. But as we continue to let standards slide, we’re setting future generations up for failure. The decline in our education system isn’t just about falling test scores, it’s about the unraveling of our society’s ability to think, innovate, and lead. Unless we start demanding more from our schools or develop an alternative to them, we’re going to see this unraveling accelerate. The time to act is now, before the long-term damage becomes irreversible.