Generally, I see this discussion as about whether people should all get the same thing or should get what they need. If clothes or food were the topic, most people would not want everyone to have to have the same thing, it would clearly be inefficient and inequitable. Education is not seen the same way here.
This reminds me of the fish-feeding analogy that some corporate guy gave us when I was a manager at Petsmart. He was explaining why different kinds of fish need different kinds of food, but it works as well for kids and education. If you have a horse, a dog and a lizard, it doesn't matter what kind of food you feed them if you're feeding them all the same thing -- two out of three are going to starve to death. Feed them hay, the horse is happy and the other two die. Feed them steak, the dog is happy and the other two die. Feed them bugs, the lizard is happy and the other two die. Each one has to have his own diet in order to thrive, or indeed to survive. And you may protest, "but I feed them all every day! I give them plenty to eat!" but if they can't eat it, it is useless. Same with education.
