But back to the topic of discussion: it seems to me that the general feeling about music education in the United States, is that it is an unnecessary luxury - far less important than varsity sports, for example, which accommodates only the best athletes.
In the rest of the world, schools at least seem to express regret when they cannot afford to provide music instruction. Not so in much of the United States. It's still offered as an option in many American schools, but I think it's rare to find it as a mandatory part of the curriculum.

-Joe-