Unfortunately, in the US, people from higher socioeconomic strata don't like to mingle with those of the lower. That is why they flee public education and laws

Unfortunately, in the US, people from higher socioeconomic strata don't like to mingle with those of the lower. That is why they flee public education and laws allow them. In addition, charter schools have no curriculum requirements in the name of "flexibility". They can teach whatever they want and hire whomever they wish but still get federal $$$. It's absurd. Even worse, the US lacks comprehensive nationalized standards to begin with - public schools can purchase textbooks that have completely different US histories, usually regarding the Civil War and racism. It really is a clusterf*ck of epic proportions driven entirely by the GOP. I know HN gets fussy about calling out political differences, but this is a huge one. The GOP fights standards tooth-and-nail, as do GOP governors at the state level.