Theory Why Schools aren't as Good as They Were

i'd hear a podcast from obama about getting away from an agrarian education system and more to a 21st century model
it seems that education was best when it was against something (math and engineering to beat the russians into space)
now since "god" is the answer to all questions and we are racing our enemies to the depths of fundamentalism, i doubt our educational system will have much "focus" for awhile