I don't necessarily disagree, but it seems like there has been an article a day about "should i go to college", "the diminishing value of a degree", etc.
Is something that the country is focusing on right now or is it hacker news specific?
The anti-education slant largely comes about from people trying to prove themselves or justify their personal circumstances. Their words: "Well, I didn't go to college and I'm doing fine." Their meaning: "You must be not as good as me if you didn't do what I did." Their feelings: "All these other people had opportunities, support, and they just went along with it. Their lives were handed to them. I know I'm better, or at least just as good, as them even though I didn't go to a fancy school. I'm going to prove it by telling everybody how school is worthless."
In short, you are what you did. The anti-schoolers forget school also includes social grooming, transition periods, and growing up. The schoolers forget not going to school has different ways of social grooming, helping with transitions, and growing up.