I was lucky to have been born when primary and secondary schools still prepared a student for the life ahead. When I graduated from high school, I was functionally literate; I could express myself verbally and in writing, and I was able to comprehend and analyze what I read. I also had a good knowledge of history, math, geography, and science.
Sadly, things changed over the years. There’s a reason why nearly every first-year college student is required to complete two semesters of basic English grammar and composition. I often take courses at my local community college, just for fun, and it’s painfully obvious that the recent high school graduates are unprepared.