Americans, do we not truly value the gift of education?

I don't know about most other countries, but isn't it ironic that third world countries seem to value and appreciate education way more than those countries were education is free until college and extremely accessible. It seems to me today if children, usually in middle to high school, are not forced into doing good they could truly care less about school and learning. I know of course there are those children that do respect what education can do for them, but it seems the majority of children these days just don't care. The drop-out rates are insane forcing government to act and put force on the districts and teachers, but this seems to make matters worse because it lowers the morales of hard working teachers who are being blamed for children's total disregard for what's being taught to them. I know there are exceptions- shitty teachers, learning disabilities, students who are trying but cannot comprehend, but I'm not talking about those situations, I'm talking about the hundred of kids I see each week that find school an obligation and don't even try in their cles, give teachers a hard time, and are bad influences on other students. These kids are becoming the majority. They are disrespectful to teachers and ruin school for everyone. So, I have to ask, do we as Americans truly appreciate the value of getting a good education?