America, as founded by the Pilgrims, began with the idea that all people can learn because all homes can teach. The early colonies were the first society with widespread literacy and critical thought. Somewhere along the line, we decided that learning outside the home was better. We shipped off the kids and went about our business. Learning was no longer a shared responsibility of the family.
Public education brought the benefit of reaching uneducated classes. But, we grew dependent on a crutch. Pilgrim home learning was made possible by the press. With Internet, learning might be able to return home.