[jays]

Of course they value it. There is no argument there. I feel the culture and average person just doesn't value it at the same level they once did.

My wife is a math teacher now for 15 years (Middle school & High School). The attitudes of kids in just that time span have changed significantly. There is more emphasis by students and parents for their child to pushed to the next grade level with less effort. Teachers are put in the hot seat for kids not doing their homework or getting extra help. Both are the students responsibility. Students come to school extremely tired, which they admit is due to various hours of entertainment media consumption and staying up late.

There has been study after study showing that students are spending more time on their screens, looking at various forms of entertainment media. How can we blame them? It's addicting.

You're probably right, the system has failed them. I'm not sure how it gets fixed, but I feel strongly that people can't depend on just getting educated by institutions alone. There are other avenues that we should be promoting.