>It takes intense systemic conditioning to suppress their natural curiosity.

Yep, the public school system in America excels at squelching curiosity and any desire to learn.

It's not a particularly American phenomenon.

I can remember reading "Deschooling Society" by Ivan Illich whilst in the UK's comprehensive school system.

On retrospect, I don't think I realised the importance of schools facilitating socialisation, rather than just learning.

John Taylor Gatto was an award-winning public schoolteacher who more-or-less agreed with this sentiment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Taylor_Gatto

How are you incapable of understand sarcasm? In fact you're arguing from Appeal to Authority now. I just, I don't understand. The weird thing is that your argument is extremely convincing at first glance even though the entirety of your argument is in a link to wikipedia?

Sharing knowledge and understanding doesn't have to be an argument.

Just what do you expect my response is going to be to that? I certainly don't understand anything more now. You bring up someone obscure and state he is representative of what I could conclude is all teachers urging for reform of our education system? Maybe after reading the previous arguments by COMPLETELY SEPERATE PEOPLE I have been mislead.

Not to be personal or anything, but I went to public school.

I found this on the ground, did you drop it? </s>

Yes, I completely appreciate the handwaving that sci-fi authors regularly do to avoid having to switch to the character's great-greatX1000 grandchild upon arrival to Alpha Centauri....on page 2 of 500!