The Aug. 24 edition of the Butler Eagle included an interesting article pertaining to sagging ACT college scores.

This article, along with a recent article in the Washington Post noting SAT scores for 2015 are at the lowest level in 10 years, is increasing concerns about K-12 public school education.

The U.S. public education system, once the international model for learning and assimilating citizens into understanding the fundamental values of being an American, has been corrupted by the state and federal intrusion of politicians’ gobbledygook, and years of failed progressive experimentation.

U.S. Public Schools, once highly successful prided themselves by teaching rigorous reading, writing, arithmetic and appropriate social interaction, are now befuddled in attempting to teach children what restroom to use.

At a time when college enrollment is increasing, why is scholarly learning decreasing? Also, unfortunately, many people confuse attending college to learning in college. Generally, this previously meant studying quality classical curriculum, along with today’s required futuristic requirements, and disregarding “feel-good” politically motivated curriculum.

Unfortunately many fail to understand that college is a business. Just like the numerous legal advertisements on television stating, “You don’t pay, unless we get money for you.” Colleges and universities are advertising anything and everything to scoop up any willing individual and invent some type of degree to get and keep butts in the seats.

Some institutions are offering numerous perks for enrollment, for example: a tuition free year to finish college, earning numerous degrees at the same time, forgoing the ACT or SAT tests for enrollment, and a host of incentives for the students classified as disadvantaged.

Palatial dormitories, fancy technology buildings, no-fail grading guarantees, reduced academic rigor, mandated politically motivated curriculum, along with quota systems for enrollment or teaching are not keys to success, and seem to be increasing the U.S. educational systems’ race to the bottom.

At a time when exponential growth in technology will radically change the face of employment, can our country afford to continue on the path of least academic preparedness?

Should everyone attend college? Perhaps, but before you invest in any educational purchase, pay attention to what’s going on at the K-12 level in your school district, and then be very careful when shopping for a college or university.

All colleges and universities will hurriedly offer to work with you, but it’s not always their intent to work for you.