I graduated from high school in 1979. I took 2 years of physics, chemistry, 3 years of computer programming, 3 years of electronics, calculus, and to many english classes(I hate english!).

After becoming disabled after repairing electronics for 27 years (I went straight into from high school) I went back to college for a degree in computer information systems. This was in 2008 and I was shocked by the lack of writing skills, lack of math skills, and in general lack of communication skills.

These were college student who couldn't write a simple paper for a class. We would have to critique papers and mine were rarely corrected but the stuff I had to read made me cringe. Same for math skills. Simple algebra was beyond many of the students and this was in statistics classes, pre-calculus etc.

I experienced the lack of communications skills first hand in online discussion groups. Student who couldn't write well enough to get simple ideas across to others. Complex topics were beyond them and I got frequent complaints that what I brought up was to advanced.

The US is headed for third world status. We lack skilled workers in way to many fields. We even lack skilled workers in blue collar technical fields like electronic repair. There are some public schools that are exceptions. In the small town I live in the school is a charter school and they focus on the basics. Students come from several counties around and my town has a population of 280.