Since public education became a mandate it has been underfunded, under appreciated and under attack by the Conservatives. They have to teach to prepare for the constant barrage of tests cranked out by unscrupulous companies crying out "The public education system is failing our children!" when the data is skewed to make it appear that way to drive the privatization of schools and sell more of these tests, while subjects like geography, history and humanities are cut out from the dwindling budget.

Right-wing nutjobs and Bible-thumpers insist that "the proper" version of what history is taught glosses over our less than sterling past: slavery, the genocidal "pacification" of Native Americans, the overthrow of rightful governments (Hawaii, Iran's original elected government, etc.), anti-immigrant streaks, the Japanese internment camps, the labor movement's importance, the continuing struggle for civil rights... I could go on at length.

Then college, which like everything else, has ballooned to such an astronomical cost it is out of reach for many and due to the economic downturn a diminishing return for those who go and have to taje student loans. Like most things in America, IT'S GROTESQUELY BROKEN.