IMO, this dumbing down business has been going on for a long, long time, but it ramped up bigtime when they decided to dumb down the lower grades so that children didn't have to suffer the disappointment and humiliation of failure, so that they could feel good about themselves, so they can get what they want or where they want without learning to or trying harder to overcome adversities, etc. The colleges eventually have had to follow suit as more and more of the students wanting to go to or find it necessary to go to college to qualify for jobs (most any jobs, nowadays) but couldn't pass the entrance exams, and it was an opportunity to expand, they could not pass up. When I went back to college to refresh my accounting skills and learn computerized accounting programs, I was horrified to discover that most of the 2 years I spent there were on things I learned in high school, very little new, except for learning Microsoft's productivity programs. My accounting professor, when I commented about it and asked him if they don't teach these in high school anymore, replied no. I did get a good Technical Writing class in college though; something I would not have had in high school, and it was an online course. So what have we now? Students who can't do math without a calculator, students who can't write cursive, among other things.
Two extremes? Going beyond Japan with its family oriented emphasis on educational excellence is what Chinese government is experimenting on to get children to concentrate and be more focused. They have the kids wear bands on their heads that measure brain wave activity which shows whether or not a student is paying attention or concentrating on their school work. The devices report to the teacher and to the child's parents. I assume there is some remedial action involved to help flagging students to improve. I don't know what the current status of this experiment is today. I have to wonder if this is a precursor to mind control and brain washing devices.
Well, that is a little off the subject of classics. What I have been doing lately is catching up on some more ancient history clips on YouTube. The most recent programs I watched were a three hour program on Britain after Rome pulled out (up to around 900AD), and a few short clips on the eastern campaigns. My newest book acquistions include Simon Elliot's The Missing Roman Legion: What Really Happened to IX Hispania?, and three Ian Hughes books, Stilicho, The Vandal Who Saved Rome, Belasarius, The Last Roman General, and Aetius, Attila's Nemesis.
