What does it mean to be educated?

Going through grade school isn't just about all of the tests, homework, projects, SOL's, due dates, blah blah blah. There's something much more to being a part of an educated community and having those experiences while growing up. I don't agree with those teachers that dish out busy work and stupid time-consuming projects. In my opinion, a real education includes the subjects' connection to real-life situations and using "hands-on" learning, all while keeping the students interested. In a typical American high school, actually learning isn't always at the top of a teenage student's list of priorities. They have to balance their extracurriculars, social life, and life at home. And if the schoolwork is boring or seems to be pointless, then the student has lost all interest in learning all together. On the other hand, in many inner-city schools, kids are literally giving up everything they have to be properly educated. They want it more than anything else. Why is their mentality so different from the average suburban teen?