"60% of Americans have below a 6th grade reading level", and almost every newspaper is written with a 7th grade vocabulary. Similarly the language used on the boobtube is equally dumbed down.

Fwiw, as a 1960s NY public school kid... middle of the curve at best, B average, by the time I took the Iowa Tests in 8th grade, my grammar and reading comprehension were 10th grade and my vocabulary was 12th; but my mother was a NY public school librarian who inspired me to read.