Do exams take away crucial knowledge needed....

[Publius]

I read an article recently (can't remember where) that stated our current education system is based on a public education system developed in Prussia (now part of Germany) with one of it's primary goals of building good/little boys and girls who behave, are compliant and aren't free thinkers. If I find it again, I'll post a link; I think it was in The Chronicle. So yes, a huge part of our grades are on how well you play with others.

Which is why when you break out of their system and their little boxes you are either (1) praised, (2) criticized, or (3) met with a blank stare cause they're basically oblivious.

But yes, that's what they want to see. Masses of compliant behaved people, who don't think for themselves. They're dumbing us down, and most people just let it happen. Just look at where we stand compared to the rest of the developed world when it comes to education. We think it's just education and "kids" but those kids are tomorrows workforce. Don't really want to think that our economy is going to get worse, but it looks like there's even rougher times ahead (esp when we're in over our head with debt as it is).