This is one of my big subjects too. I quite agree that American culture as a whole does not value education. "Egg heads" are looked down on even in our culture, and it's much worse in the culture of those who did not get an education. I remember an African friend of mine being called an "Oreo" for getting good grades. Apparently it's a sign of being white. It's frightening. Teachers in Hungary (where I spent part of my childhood) were not paid all that well, but they were respected by the school structure, by the parents, and therefore by the kids. It's that lack of respect that makes teaching such a difficult job today. I was a mouthy kid and challenged teachers occasionally, but I would've been in big trouble if I had physically challenged them, or not listened to them.

FWIW, my ESL class communicated not at all with my parents. But then, I'm lucky, my parents both have graduate degrees and there was no doubt that I would go to university, and probably get a graduate degree as well. We didn't quite live in a bubble, but we did try to maintain our own culture. For the better, in my rather biased opinion. I just hope that I can impart that expectation of learning and teaching in my kids.