A quote like that would get any grade-schooler suspended and any high-schooler jailed. Probably, today it would get Mencken sent to Gitmo.

I don't know if public education beyond eighth grade has ever educated the children it has been imposed on. Had I not been a voracious reader when I arrived in high school, and had I not read on my own throughout the remainder of my "education" I would have remained one of the ignoramuses. People are quite adept at learning; I doubt the are capable of being educated. Education certainly cannot be imposed on anyone.