what are school systems thinking?

why don't we just come out and finally admit what we've known all along?  there are very few if any school systems that really care about the academics of their schools.  yes, they want their scores high, but why?  so students can be smarter?  heck, no.  only because it makes them jump through the hoops that the federal and state governments have set for them.  they don't want to lose the funds or be an embarrassment to their patrons and parents.  it's a competition that everyone loses at.  school boards, parents, patrons, and certainly federal and state governments could care less about students' life success or failure.  let's stop fooling ourselves and admit it. students come out of high schools woefully behind in life skills:  common sense, morality, small engine repair, construction, estimating, applicational math.  yes, there are some that succeed.  they are going to succeed if you keep them in a box until their 16 birthday.  and some are going to fail, no matter the technology, special help, and hours of tutoring they receive.  but the bottom line is that we don't CARE for students, young people, anymore.  only what they can do for us or how they make us look to the general public or to their parents.  let's start teaching the heart, common sense, manners, and applicational life skills to all students and quit worrying about the stupid tests scores.  so what if germany, japan, china, and everyone has higher tests scores. we don't live there and most of us will never be in the international markets.  we live right where we are. and this country needs all the help it can get and NOW!