I know I will sound like a liberal here, but doesn't everyone benefit from a good school system?
What are they being taught - how to use the perferred pronoun? How to have gay sex? You girls must accept competing against the boys in sport?
Yes but not in today’s world because the system is a failure. It needs a complete overhaul.
Skilled people who are hired to teach young people (say chemistry classes in high school or nursing courses at a community college) COULD have used their human capital to produce immediately-needed consumer goods and services.
They could have been hired -- to research new pharmaceuticals, or provide nursing and rehab services, instead.
The choice is between using human capital (skilled people) to make MORE "human capital" (educate today's young people), or to produce "Consumer goods" (for services that adults and seniors immediately need new drugs, surgeries or therapies to extend and enjoy life).
In short - every biology teacher we hire to each HS microbiology, means one less researcher in a lab, making immediate new commercial discoveries for older consumers who need breakthroughs - NOW.
I am not saying which direction things "should" go -- but I feel the trade off should be driven by voluntary consumer spending decisions - parents, versus older consumers who want that chemist or nurse, NOW, for services needed.
More kids are great -- but, so is a longer life expectancy for those bidding for it, with their dollars....
Hope that makes sense. This is how I explain there is an 'opportunity cost' to "more investment" in K-12 & up Education to my econ students............