There is a lot of philosophy on the relationship of art and artist. You should do what feels right to you, but don't condemn others for seeing things differently. Good discussion here: researchblog.duke.edu/2023/02/14/w...

I grew up in rural Missouri where we were encouraged to take up a trade. College was not on the menu. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was we weren't encouraged to aspire to something more. If you are encouraging kids to stretch and grow and aspire, you are educating them well.

I'm also in NJ. I think it's hard to understand what's going on here if you aren't living it.