Mr. Elfers hits the nail on the head here.  He states the problem so clearly, yet delivers the bad news that there is no easy solution.  Many parents today are doing an outstanding job of raising their children; other parents, not so much.  

I heard a public service announcement about the need to provide kids with several meals to take home from school every Friday--otherwise they will have nothing to eat all weekend!  Now schools are somehow responsible for students' very survival in their own homes, seven days a week? 

As Mr. Elfers said, this is insanity and we need a new solution.  If the problem is irresponsible parents, no amount of school funding and no number of dedicated teachers can fix it.  Ideas?