That's because we have little value for education. When the gov't wants to slash the budget, where's the first place they look to cut?
What is even worse is people generally won't vote to increase funding for education when it comes up on the ballot.
My home state is leading the nation in cuts to school budgets state wide.
The good teachers are heading to Texas because they start their teachers off @ 55k.
They've closed and combined schools only to increase the classroom size.
Ignorance truly is bliss.