but no I think it was the word “meritocracy” that set me off. or all the “meetings.” or the artificialness. or something. i don’t know either.

That is a bit scary, but that’s why education is scary, period.

Don’t forget that individual achievement ( remember all those gold stars on your papers you did or did not receive in grade school) is as much a social engineered aspect of grade school, as is deciding that everyone should be able to collectively decide on Lego structure sizes. I mean, I have to agree making all the houses the same size sounds a bit reductive, but the kids are 8.

Neither vision is perfect; the idea of rights based society where the individual is paramount, or a collective where the needs of the community can sometimes overwhelm the will of a sole person. But it is important to realize that in all your however many years, the idea of individual achievement was first implemented at grade school – yours, mine, basically everyone’s.

Okay, going to go ponder some more. I like you point that the teachers never question their role. Teachers never question that – it’s the most sacred cow of all the cows.