Having been through that system I have to say, it's inherently more about training students to be ok with having their movements and thoughts constrained, following instructions, being kept safely contained while their parents are at work, and (if you're trying for academic success) developing a toxic concept of self worth and "success", than helping them become informed and capable people. I don't understand how anyone can graduate and conclude, yes, more of this is what our society needs to thrive. Maybe they just choose not to think about what it was actually like because they don't have to deal with it anymore, or still buy into the idea that putting themselves through that gave them value because the alternative is too painful. There's a reason so many people have anxiety dreams about being in school even decades later.

Not at all an endorsement of replacing school with child labor like some people seem to want, but we really need an entirely different way for people to have an opportunity to become literate and explore science and history etc. rather than putting more resources into this awful institution.