A free education has lost its value in the States. Back when your options were farmwork, factory labor, or the mines, a chance to go to school was cherished. We got lazy and spoiled, school became a bore. Education became second nature, nothing worth fighting for, and in many schools the curriculum reflected that.
I know in my hometown, our public school system almost lost its accreditation. They were spending too much money on the athletic department and nothing on education, test scores fell and it wasn't until the State noticed that we were flagged as a failing school system. And this was in sweet, sweet suburbia USA where school is supposed to be a priority. All my town cared about was the football team.
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