With all I said above, we have never had more resources to be educated than we have today, yet the state of general knowledge and proficiency tests out as poor. We have abundant libraries, media, SPED programs, and not least of all the web. I dare say that poverty does play into availing the deficit and I grant that. However, it just takes more work on the part of teachers parents, and students. That kind of effort is though is difficult given the available energy is already at capacity. Still, if Lincoln could get an education (we know the story), albeit a different time in history, then I think it is still possible today.