Instead of better educating our population, the low-tax / anti-intellectual / authoritarian-reactionaries have convinced the population that they don't need education.
With education, they might aim for socio-economic advancement (remember the American Dream?), think for themselves, challenge the established order (edit: i.e., they might decide to become the powerful and the leaders themselves). Now they know their places - don't get an education, and take a job where you won't ever need one. Sad to see the American Dream abandoned and people just giving up. Of course, the wealthy kids still get the education - they are in a different class in our new class-based system.
Also, education costs money, and that is the hardline priority over everything, including fundamental human welfare such as health care and education.
With education, they might aim for socio-economic advancement (remember the American Dream?), think for themselves, challenge the established order (edit: i.e., they might decide to become the powerful and the leaders themselves). Now they know their places - don't get an education, and take a job where you won't ever need one. Sad to see the American Dream abandoned and people just giving up. Of course, the wealthy kids still get the education - they are in a different class in our new class-based system.
Also, education costs money, and that is the hardline priority over everything, including fundamental human welfare such as health care and education.