I don't know about an entire generation. A database class which was mostly about normalization and relational algebra was a requirement for my degree, and I gra

I don't know about an entire generation. A database class which was mostly about normalization and relational algebra was a requirement for my degree, and I graduated fairly recently. I wouldn't be able to recall every form and their requirements, but the general principles are etched into my thinking. It's almost "common sense" to structure data in BCNF, even if one doesn't recognize it as such.