Sorry, I hit the post button before I was finished.
There's a difference between day care and schools that most people (not necessarily including you in this) have forgotten.
Our forebearers did very well with a 4th grade education - but, the standards were such that a 4th grade education in 1850 was probably the equivalent of a 12th grade education or better today.
And, I won't accept any argument that a high-tech society required better education. Yes, some jobs do, but consider this - the high tech society was created by school dropouts. Think Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and many many more. And - have you met an 8 year old today who can't use a digital camera, computer with all types of software, and search on the Internet ?
Could most people pay for 4 years of school for their kids if they were not paying property and state and federal taxes related to education ? Maybe not the people with 8 kids, but those with 2 ? Of course they could.
And the people with 8 kids should be getting the loud message that they have no business having 8 kids, if they can't afford to pay for their education and all their other basic needs, without taxpayer assistance.