not sure

It is being dumbed down at an astronomical rate. Look at child education from about the mid 80's and back compared to now. I was watching The Andy Griffith Show and Opie was discussing American principles in elementary school. My son had no idea when WWI was and he is almost in high school... advanced classes no less. We were watching the latest Wonder Woman and in our post movie discussion, I mentioned how this version was in WWI and previous efforts centered around WWII. He spoke of some of the discussions his pears had on the subject, again the brightest of the brightest and it worried me. They are dropping the wonders of American Literature completely. I had suggested a Steinbeck novel for him and he said no, he could get the latest Halo book since they didn't care what he read at school. If it can be boiled down to a simple app with flashing colors, they youth will have their minds entertained. The new philosophy in school appears to be teach only the ones that really want it and don't worry about the rest of them. What kid wants to be taught? By the time they realize they do, it is too late. I take "Idiocracy" as a warning about the dangerous path that many can all too easily follow. The path of least resistance is not always worth the trip.

This question is a good one. Makes me think of the movie. Idiocracy.

America never was the epitome of intelligence to begin with. It's a nation of hucksters and simple minded folks. The "intelligent" people are the immigrants who come there to make their fortunes, and then move to someplace more civilised.