one of the things that is happening these days is that the 'children' we want to educate are, by default, deciding too much about what shall be taught! "oh, man...that's so, like, YESTERDAY! We don't need all that strict grammar stuff anymore. We can express ourselves just fine!"

...and the schools obligingly back off of some of the serious taeching of yesterday, worried that if they insist on LEARNING, the kids will ignore them, so they (the educators) create little games and low-key classes with minimal emphasis on getting your language right. I met with my son's English teacher in the 11th grade several years ago, and was appalled at the curriculum and the teacher's attitude of "laissez faire". He simply did what he was told and could barely use the language himself. Is this a universal problem and attitude? I suppose not, but I have seen precious little GOOD language taught here in Montgomery County, Maryland. They are flat abandoning detail in favor of sugar-coating the studies in hopes that the kids will get a LITTLE of it!

what, me? Cynical? nawwwwwww...