The number one goal in a functioning democracy should be to have the highest possible education rate.

Number one? Highest?

I disagree with the extremes.

Why wouldn't self defense be number one, in many cases/times?

Why wouldn't we simply stop spending on education at break even ROI? (to be clear that's not the same as the education creates a salary bump equal to the tuition ... there are Nth order effects of education that should be priced into my point)