There is no "if it is true" about it.....it is true.

Which decision do you think will anger more parents.....cancelling final exams, or cancelling the homecoming football game and associated activities (and I'm not knocking football......I have been an asst. coach at the HS or JH levels my entire career)?

I'm not a sociologist or a psychologist.  I can only give you examples of how education isn't valued. As for the reasons, you'd have to ask the parents in those instances.

I wasn't renewed for a second year at a school in Kansas (both as a teacher and coach), despite recommendations for renewal from my principal, superintendent, and activities director.....and excellent classroom evaluations.  In other words, it was a school board decision.  Why wasn't I renewed?  Because I didn't win enough games, and I benched the wrong kids for 3 minutes of a basketball game.....at the junior high level.  I'm not sure how education was valued over sports in that instance.