I agree with the decline. I agree that the elite class is driving this.

I'm going to push back a little bit on the foregone conclusion that the entire poor populace will be kept from an education. This isn't the middle ages anymore. The internet changes things. There's never been an easier time to educate oneself in nearly anything you want.

I think the bigger problem is that the poor have bought it to the propaganda that education is worthless.

You mentioned rich kids learning to code so they could manipulate systems and governments. That's great, but they'll never be brilliant coders just because they're taking classes in it. Anyone can learn to code virtually free.

Arts and music? You don't have to have a class in art appreciation to be an artist. You need a community of fellow artists and a library card. Access to some materials. It doesn't have to be expensive, high end oil paint either. It could be scrap wood, paper and a ballpoint pen, or even a cheap tablet (which are often given free to the poor).

I've often wondered if poor people wouldn't be better off doing exactly what rich people do. Educating their own by forming learning pods. A library meeting room is $5 for 2 or more hours. Certainly long enough, to get assignments, turn and specialized help for most students.

So little money that goes to schools is actually spent on education.

It wouldn't be better for everyone, that's for sure. I'm thinking special needs kids would particularly be disenfranchised.

At any rate whether we want it or not, we may soon find out.