Education only resembles a caste system because its availability is heritable. The quality of public education depends on the income characteristics of the geog

Education only resembles a caste system because its availability is heritable. The quality of public education depends on the income characteristics of the geographical location you're born into; the quality of higher education depends on the disposable income of your parents (except at the most elite schools with full need-based scholarships for middle-class students). I'd rather see us abandon the bizarre notion that education is in any way a parental or local responsibility. It should be federally controlled with uniform quality for every student and differentiations that make sense (on natural talent, effort, and specializations chosen) rather than those based on parentage. Good education gives you a better understanding of what you're doing and the context of the world, people, and systems you're doing it to. Of course it makes a difference, and it should be available to everyone.