It is sad :(
But it is tendency of nowadays world to downgrade education of people.
In Europe the same things are happening. Many of modern students even do not know how to deal with rational numbers without computer or calculator. I saw this myself, and was shocked.
Some interesting points if view on this phenomena I've found in book "Dr John Coleman/ Committee of 300". It is rather paranoid book, but many thing happens according to what Coleman wrote in early 90-s.
Vasil