I feel sorry for them too. It is almost impossible today for good teachers to function at even a minimal level in public schools. I hear lots of sad stories from teachers..
I was extraordinarily pleased with my daughter's public schooling (she graduated three years ago from a "magnet school" in a large city). I would never trade anything for what she was able to do and able to learn there - but so much of it was because the teachers were allowed to teach their subjects without a lot of political interference from their supervisors...
My son, on the other hand, is 14 years younger than his sister, and the approach local educators are taking with his peers is less that satisfactory. Hence, his homeschooling began early, and we have never regretted it. I am convinced that there are many good schools left, but they are becoming harder and harder to find. As a certified public school teacher, I am convince that homeschooling is by far the best choice for my son.