But that isn't a precursor to being a great nation. Public Schools I mean. Besides ones definition of what makes a nation great can vary widely between one person and another.
Exceptionally bright children do not need a great education to do well in life. What people need to do well are determination and passion for particular goals. There are plenty of people out there with only a high school education that have succeeded beyond most peoples dreams. Perhaps it is only anecdotal evidence, but nonetheless it is something. Would you say that the only reason your plants grow so well is because you went to college, or is it because you learned to grow them well because you WANTED to learn to grow them well?
to be perfectly honest, it does have plenty to do with college. PLB108 (plant botany) was one of my favorite courses. a sweet old lady with a quasi-modo hunch taught that course and would often spell 'animals' as 'aminals' among other cute little mistakes.
despite the hot chick that sat in front of me, i did learn a lot and was very successful with cannabis my first time around, despite a poorly ventilated, ultra hot set up and plants that it the roof because i had no idea they would stretch so much. to this day, i still keep things as low tech as possible, i own no products besides basic grow/bloom ferts, neem oil, and rooting powder. i have never once checked soil PH yet never have had it kill a plant or even stunt it too severely.
i agree with your sentiment, but at the very least we need a place for the children to learn socialization and conformity. too much conformity, mind you, is counterproductive IMO. but, then again, so is too little. socialization is a basic but vital thing.
it took until college for me to realize that most of what i learned in history class was BS, most people never will. college spurred my desire for knowledge greatly. then again, it could have been smoking so much weed. who knows.
in any case, a public education system is vital for any great society and i will stand by that.