&quot;Traditional Public Schools&quot; aren&#x27;t really that old... the schools resembling what we have today as K-12 in the US is only about a century old, and then in Urban areas mostly.  Parents that could, would teach their kids, and those that could afford it, there were private tutors and schools.<p>Our K-12 system is relatively new, and even then has changed a lot since even when I was a kid, let alone what my parents and grandparents had.  My great grandmother was a school teacher, and the English textbook that 5th graders were taught in the 50&#x27;s was harder than anything I had through graduating 22 years ago.<p>We&#x27;re spending far more time on &quot;computer skills&quot; and &quot;soft skills&quot; and &quot;self esteem&quot; and less on core english, math and communications skills... those skills with which you can learn anything else.