Is the American education system a joke?

A person who wants to be an electrician takes electrical classes a person who wants to be a beauty consultant might take a business or cosmetics class. In the American education system we have to through a number of classes,subjects and tests to graduate or move toward our career or major even though a majority of this classes will not benefit you at all. In college you have to do the same thing except you're paying for these classes you don't need. For example if you want to be a history teacher you need to pay to take a biology class first ?? My sister will be paying her college loans for the rest of her life probably. I think the American education system has become more of a financial business than a institution that's priority is to educate or to take classes required in their major or career.