Back to School Blues By Victor Davis Hanson

Last week I went shopping in our small rural hometown, where my family has attended the same public schools since 1896. Without exception, all six generations of us -- whether farmers, housewives, day laborers, business people, writers, lawyers or educators -- were given a good, competitive K-12 education.

But after a haircut, I noticed that the 20-something cashier could not count out change. The next day, at the electronic outlet store, another young clerk could not read -- much less explain -- the basic English of the buyer's warranty. At the food market, I listened as a young couple argued over the price of a cut of tri-tip -- unable to calculate the meat's real value from its price per pound.

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