First read this MJS editorial where they criticize the increase in funding for area police departments, including Milwaukee:

What to make of the alliance's study? Well, for one, that dream world we sometimes lapse into - where we can expand the police force and reduce local spending - is, well, a dream world. The findings should prompt us to contemplate, too, just how much additional security we get with each new cop. Are there less costly ways to enhance safety?

Now replace the phrase "police force" with "schools", "additional security"/"enhanced safety" with "better education" and "cop" with "teacher".  Then try to imagine if the MJS editorial board would come to the same conclusions regarding public schools... or think it was a worthwhile idea to examine how much money we reflexively throw there.

Hard to imagine isn't it?  Funny how the subject matters more than the numbers sometimes doesn't it?