John Taylor Gatto suggested that folks compare the atmosphere inside a library with that found inside a public school. Night and day. The people in the library, you see, WANT to be there. They attend voluntarily.
Public school students are sullen inmates compelled by force to partake of something so worthless that the purveyors can’t even GIVE it away!
I don’t entirely agree with you. My daughter is an excellent student and her perception is that, while she has some substandard teachers, she has had many excellent teachers who are prevented from really teaching by the sullen inmates (who are unwilling to take advantage of a very expensive education). This is why I am in favor of extensive streaming (based both on aptitude and behavior). You will do something productive during school hours (either learn or find a task to perform).
I think libraries are essential and should be adequately funded. I don’t agree about selection of just liberal books made by another reply. My library purchases all the best seller books (both liberal and conservative). For example over a 100 C.S. Lewis books, 10 Solzhenitsyn, 4 Mark Levin, 3 Michelle Malkin, 7 Ann Coulter, 6 O’Reilly, 6 Goldberg, 3 Mike Huckabee, and 4 Pat Buchanan.