I think this is a little on the naive side, absolutely no offense intended. Yes the school system places us in a place that most don't want to be and requires us to learn ''their'' way but it's far from as oppressive as you make it sound. You've even said yourself that people can graduate and still be imbeciles, and that's because even though you're required to be there all school can do is suggest really it's up to the student to waste the education or not.

I also don't exactly understand where schools limit a person's ability to think for themselves, and find themselves through school. There are a plethora of clubs and teams, not to mention libraries with many books outside of the required learning. All able to help someone express themselves and uncover interests, the only way that I can see someone simply being a ''machine'' while going through school is by choice.

Lastly what's wrong with conditioning people to get used to turning in work on time, and helping them grasp the concept of what it will be like in world to be given a task?. You say things like ''enslavement'' and ''soldiers'' but that's what life is...working to pay the bills, unless you're rich. I think teaching the youth how to survive in the real world is one of the best things possible, Jaystar made a very valid point pertaining to this. The one about putting someone without a degree on the same level as someone with a degree, although this is not a guaranteed measure of intelligence it at least shows that they put in the time and effort and somewhat know of what they speak.

I admire your statements, fact is I wish the world were like that...do what you love and you'll be happy. The world however is not so warm, it's a cold and bitter embrace, even those who attend college are not guaranteed to find work. In that sense what are the chances of a bright eyed pup armed with hopes and dreams? in rare cases, extremely rare cases there are those who slip through the crack. However having the attitude that degrees aren't necessary, and that school limits learning outside a structured system is not accurate.