Parents who abdicate their responsibilities to the state generally are irresponsible anyway. Unmarried mothers are a disaster for ANY educational system. They are the reasons for the difficulties in the education system.
And it is false that the state created schools to control what kids learn. They were created to assure that they have an opportunity to learn as part of the democratization of our culture. Having only the wealthiest class educated is not going to allow a strong economy or a strong military. Ideological blinders don't help understanding history or current events.
As to what percentage of our society is military or former military it is big. Its relevance is unknown in any case.
They were created to assure that they have an opportunity to learn as part of the democratization of our culture. Learn what? What you think is true? What I think is true? What Osama thinks is true? What Farmer Bob thinks is true?
The state will determine what kids learn, what they need to learn, and why they need to learn it. Their motives may be very honorable when they start, but the result will always be the same. It is too great a power.
You and I agree on the role of the parents.
I asked about the percentage of the military to help you guage what percentage of the school's output is that level. I would posit that current and former military is not more than 10% of the population and probably significantly less. But I'll let you look it up since you brought the military into this.
I would also posit that the average parent of someone in the military is a much better parent than the average parent.
Shalom.