i've always had the impression that a high school diploma meant a lot more back then. hard to say if high school education has been lowered to match the lesser

i've always had the impression that a high school diploma meant a lot more back then. hard to say if high school education has been lowered to match the lesser value of a diploma, or if the esteem a diploma commands has dropped with lowered standards. i wonder what forces are at play to cause that change.