We have the technology - so why aren't the current generation of
children encouraged to go lunar lander surfing via the Internet,
controlling

a robotic camera on the moon? To get them interested in science and
technology, so that their generation can land on Mars within their
generation?

I think it shows more - that the Moon is offlimits to humans (for whatever
reason, mainly one of conspiracy - to keep humans grounded here) and that
NASA is being very very slow towards any advances in space travel, etc. etc.
It's almost as if NASA's mission is slow mankind's advances into
space travel and associated technology.
And that the Apollo moon landings were just a one-off never to happen again...

I agree that NASA is slowing down space exploration but not for the
resons you suggest. I do not believe there is a great conspiracy,
simply that NASA scientists and engineers are not really competant.

The key enabling technology for large scale space exploration is the
Von Neumann machine, the self replicating robotic system. Not ISS, not
manned luinar landings. Any set of half cometant scientists keen on
grandiose space projects would be developing such a machine as the No 1
priority.