We have the world at our fingertips now.
If we are using the case of inner city kids, I don't think many of them have computers in their homes. That is another example of how they are being left behind.
How will they compete in the market place? Of course we would all love to believe that having a "love of learning" will fuel our children and help them succeed.
While a very important trait,loving to learn does not pay the bills.
BTW- I agree with you about the cost of an education to a certain degree. I homeschool two on $500.00 year and two computers. It has been very effective for me.
I think it's a matter of priorities. I'd rather see the school teaching how to mix mortar, lay bricks, fit plumbing joints, square a foundation, and the science associated with that stuff than to hope that the interest is there to run a computer. It's not.
A stone mason in my area earns $30 per hour. His laborers earn $18 per hour. He has work scheduled two years out. And by the way his laborers are mexicans because nobody here can mix mortar or fit stone. Last I knew, computer work was getting hard to come by.