Mainly, I agree that the issue isn't ability being valued, but which abilities we choose to value. In a completely free market, abilities that get you the highest salary are what we will value, and those are in turn determined by competition with other nations. Unsurprisingly (perhaps to us), this turns out to me maths.
Now children who may be otherwise gifted are lumped in with troublemakers. Very much like being sent to prison for weed, and coming out with an BSc in burglary.