As a former high school English teacher in NYC and western Massachusetts, I definitely blame the parents. Other factors share in the blame as well.

Please don’t immediately jump on educators while every single media company and all social media apps are actively warping children’s brains, including their attention spans, with content that prioritizes constantly moving on to the next new thing.

This inferior American education is the reason we've fallen into autocracy. Not enough critical thinking to see through the oligarch's plan.