In the early years of america, why was the education of children not much of a priority?

Not many people worried about their child's education because children would already work jobs. Boys would usually help their fathers with work and girls would help their mothers with house work and (when they reach the age) get married. But when children were not allowed to work jobs at a young age they would start attending school. Also their were not many schools and they wouldn't get funded much so they were not in the best condition.