A few pernts of clarification for you.
1. So, you present me no data to counter what our data shows, yet you're correct? Again, I'll welcome actual research that counters what we've known for decades, but simply showing up to the party with no data, all the while proclaiming that you're right, won't cut it in our circles, my friend.
2. "Tricking my audience" was contained in the title of my research, "The Stupidity Epidemic," which showed that we've ALWAYS, even in the 50's, believed that generations that follow us are more "foolish" than we were as students. Again, the data has never borne that out. So, the title was the only "trick."
3. "Unfortunately." I used that because, unfortunately, for older folks who believe they know more than younger generations, our data does not reveal that. Keep in mind, I'm in my late 50's, so those fingers get pernted at me too.
4. Why, yes, my first link IS from nine years ago. Why? Because I said, longitudinally, test scores have done nothing but improve over time. That data goes back to the 70's to show the longitudinal trends. The second link brings us up to today, where, minus the COVID years, the same trend of improved scores continues.
5. Curious about the sources of data? I find THAT curious, given your expertise in everything eggacashun, yet aren't familiar with everyone's go to source for edurkation data. Have at it! https://nces.ed.gov/
6.Civics!? Of course it's not taught, nor has it been for decades. Why, you ask? Because it's been "replaced" by U.S. Gubment, U.S. history, political science, etc. Just a re-branding, just like we no longer call it Home Economics, but by a variety of new terms.