Frank wrote:
I agree pretty much with your assessment of our culture, such as it is.
I think that the schools are part of the indoctrination process,
however. Look at your own wording, "...teach the kids to be sheep."
Where do kids spend most of their day being herded around, told what to
do, told to be quiet, told when to think, and what to think, but not to
think too much. Actually having an original thought and questioning
something a teacher says is the rankest form of breaking from the herd
and results in instant and complete ostracism.
off the top of my head
the pros
1. I think you are speaking from your own experience with a school
system that didn't meet your needs.
2. You correctly want to protect your children from the same unhappy
experience you had.
3. It's possible you are/were a "gifted" person.

the cons
1. Your experience may not be your kids experience.
2. Kids need to experience life for themselves, which isn't to say that
they need to experience "school". I think there's a lot to be said for
getting out there. I just don't buy this "home-schooled makes better
kids" crap. My in-laws home-school their kids in a Baptist ghetto.
They're 2 years behind their peers in basic skills and if it ain't about
Jesus, it ain't bein' discussed in the home. OMG!!!! Are all
2.5billion of the Chinese and Indian's going straight to hell because
"they don't _know_ Jesus"? Going to get kinda crowded down there don't
you think?
3. Your criticism of "school" is predicated on a presumption that it
exists, perhaps based on your experience, to stifle the creative
expresssion of intelligence. All I can say is that my experience, and
my kid's experience was different...but then I didn't go to school in
the US.
4. Kids don't know anything yet...they're kids...even if they are gifted.
5. Most teachers do have something to say, motivated by a desire to
invigorate the minds of children. God knows they don't go into teaching
for the money, so cut them a little slack.

Do you disagree with my sweeping generalizations about school?

ah...as a rule, I think sweeping generalizations are intellectually
unsupportable.

conclusion
take 'em sailing
life's short
enjoy