I once heard the following, which I believe to be (mostly) true: “not all conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are conservative.” I don’t know the source.

It provides an opportunity for everyone to achieve, not strictly those whose families can afford it. Worse - they’re expected to contribute … even while sending their children to private institutions.

Thing is, public education is what maintains the infrastructure necessary to allow the wealthy to prosper.. still, their narcissistic entitlement causes them to resent it.

You do not educate slaves, it makes them difficult to control. And you do not like to educate your own kind because it may make you ask questions of yourself, and want higher standards, which if you are not prepared to meet them will only make you unhappy. Having said that, when viewed from Europe it is not just the conservatives, but the whole political establishment both left and right and education as a whole which is abhorrent, and the left wing will catch on in the end even in the US. Then you are in even more trouble.

Because if you are educated you won't vote for them

Conservatives wants ignorant, apathetic citizens who are bamboozled by Republicans:

1. Give huge tax breaks for the wealthy;
2. Gut social services;
3. Stop Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security;
4. End funding for public education, Pell Grants and preschool education;
5. Ban abortions;
6. Destroy clean air and water;
7. Poison water, land, oceans and food;
8. Push drilling, clear cutting, mining and selling off National Forests, Wildlife Reserves and our beloved National Parks;
9. Destroy the Earth by denying climate change is real;
10. Alienate American allies;
11. Discriminate against minorities including LGBTQ citizens;
12. Waste trillions of tax dollars on wars;
13. Continue unchecked corruption;
14. Stop minority citizens from voting; etc.