Reply #1: It is good to see attention brought to the education situation. [View All]

I would also add that we add to the purpose of education, the ability to adjust to the real and obvious variations in what nature throws out. In other words, too much standardization and focus on a successful eduction being the same for everyones still manages to ostracize those who are unable to fit into the pre-defined mold, no matter how liberal or sophisticated that mold might try to be.

Rather than allow for an underclass of "freaks" who are simply wired different, (yet functional and mentally sound) we could do more to bring that factor to the surface and find ways to channel those young people into what might work for them with their proclivities and nature. That would be enlightened and show that the system is geared towards development and success on an individual basis rather than just being an influential cookie-cutter mold that creates "good citizens" who do what they are told and fit snugly somewhere into the expectations of the Ruling Class and corporations.

There are many examples of successful people, across the spectrum of talents and skills, who were loners, acted "funny", and were uncomfortable with groups, teams, and ordinary social trivia. Finding out more how a student is wired and what their way of experiencing reality is like, will certainly yield enough naturally social, team-players for tasks that require that. It will also expose that there are many differences in human beings and that strict standardization can be frustrating and harmful for people that are not of that way of being.

Otherwise, education is simply nothing more than a form of cultural propaganda designed to churn out Borg-like, obedient, collective-worshiping bots. Critical thinking and allowance for variations could bring a rich harvest of actualized adults into our mainstream. That might be very dangerous to the Status Quo, however.