I'd like to introduce a sensitive subject as neutrally as possible.

For root causes, the morale environment is largely politically induced in a coordinated attack on public education that goes back to the 80's. For some examples...

* cuts on school lunches https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup_as_a_vegetable

* voucher programs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_voucher

* vast finanical aid cuts http://tech.mit.edu/V105/N2/budget.02n.html

These policies have persisted off and on since then.