Your real education begins after you leave school - unfortunately, most schooling doesn't provide people with the basics of economics, what trades or direction someone should consider as a career path.
One of the best things parents can do is expose their children to the many opportunities there are in the world. From there, the young person will need to make some choices as to how they want to get ahead in life. (Of course, this plan falls apart when the parents don't even know)
And it seems, true or not, many people, young and old don't care about getting ahead. They'd rather get involved in the rhetoric of the day that really provides them with no clear direction of self-actualization.
A degree doesn't guarantee a job - It will be up to the individual to make it happen.
Got my undergrad in economics. Didn't touch the stock market until long after I graduated. Could talk your ear off about economic theory before that, though (I'm a little rusty now).
Uni is good for some things, but you get out what you put in with most of it. Too bad it costs so much damned money in my country.
Yes, costs are out of control in the US in schooling and health care.
The key is to use what you learn and to always be learning.
thanks for your comments!