[jkmcf]

Public schools are a recent creation. Historically, few people were educated about anything outside their immediate needs, e.g. reading, writing, history, science, math, philosophy, etc.

If you were taught anything extra, it was from a private school or tutor -- the majority of humanity is clothed in ignorance.

Children were taught what they needed to survive, e.g. farming, fishing, etc.

My spouse homeschooled our daughter during the first school year of Covid, and it was challenging. You are completely reliant upon the materials you source, and there's no definitive curriculums.

Personally, I cannot realistically conceive of many people actually teaching their kids any science, literature, or critical thinking skills.