The proverb "if you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up" is installed in children's minds at a very young age.
Those of us who attended schools in the US during the 1950's were taught in much the same fashion, my friend.
It is a valuable asset for any society or nation, do not let anybody change that for any reason or suffer the consequences.
We are indeed suffering the consequences for it here.
--Mac