Questioning the value of public education?

Seems like conservatives have gotten on the "eliminate public schools" kick recently. Here are a couple examples.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg12jun12,0,4683079.column?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/702uscvj.asp