I think we DO value education. There are problems with schools (at all levels), attitudes (Read "The Sheepskin Psychosis"), the horrendous student loan mess, and more.
However . . . County had an elementary school, built about 1958, they decided they didn't need it any more. Sent some guys to remove "anything of value", which included the ballasts from the exit signs, snipping off the RJ-45 connectors on the data cables, and leaving a bunch of empty beer cans and cigarette butts everywhere. County then offered it for sale as surplus property. (The remaining students got bussed to a larger, more central school, which was and is the poster child for everything that was and still is wrong with public education in the USA today, but that's another tale of woe.)
Anyway, a group of people got together, formed a "school board" and bought it from the county. The ENTIRE town pitched in to clean up and refurbish the buildings, all donated labor and materials. Then we hired a management company out of California, and installed our own principal and staff.
It re-opened as a STEM school grades K through 6 (and is now K through 9). It has been in operation six years, is A rated, and has 800 students with 800 more on the waiting list! We get students from as far as 35 miles away, parents deliver them in the AM and come get them in the PM. We have teachers who commute 50 miles each way, every day.
The kids are amazing - I have NEVER seen a more motivated group of students! Kids who languished in public schools absolutely BLOOM here. The school has support from NASA, the local colleges, a marine discovery center and more. They do. not. have. a discipline problem. Just asking the question "Do you want to go back to (public) school?" closes the issue and guarantees continued exemplary good behavior.
The kids know they have a great deal, that they are important to the school and will be supported by the school as well - and they respond accordingly. The parents are ecstatic because they know their kids will be learning and staying out of trouble. And it is free . . . parents can choose the STEM school or the public school, same price, and that's why the STEM school has 800 students on the waiting list and the public school has armed guards on campus.
Education CAN be done right.
Best Regards,
Mike/Florida