With the part quoted,

The difference between then and now has more to do with what parents are doing in their lives which has an effect on how children perform in school.

We can blame the system, teachers, money or whatever. But from where i sit the problem sits squarely in the lap of parents.

Yeah yeah yeah I've heard all the arguments but those excuses change nothing. If you can't help your kids get thru their education then get someone who can.

Make the sacrifice even if it means no Starbucks, no BMW's, no big screen TV's whatever. Parents brought these children into the world so they need to get off their selfish behinds, stop complaining about what they can't do and get the job done period.

Is it hard? Yes!
Is it fair? No one cares if it's fair. Just do your job.

__________________
"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….