Recent research suggests the value of education extends far beyond the simple calculations of tuition and salary that tend to dominate discussions of the issue.
Instead of studying the effect of education on earnings, as is commonly done, studies look at juvenile delinquency. Childhood bad behavior -- assault, theft, etc. -- is an important outcome measure, because it reflects not just kids’ economic contributions, but a holistic picture of how likely they are to become the kind of citizens that we presumably want schools to produce.
Education isn’t just about making us wealthier -- it’s about making us better human beings.