February 28th, 2025

Dear Readers,

A thought-provoker today for sure…

What is the ultimate purpose of school?

No, I mean, what is it, really?

And not just the copy-and-paste cheesy mission statement that every elementary, middle, and high school has on its website.

The more and more I ponder this question I’m more and more concerned with the answer.

The state-run education system was created and continues purely to produce labor that boosts the economy. The best kind of worker is a compliant one who doesn’t ask too many questions and silently does what they are told. That’s what public education is ultimately asked to do.

This is a double-edged sword.

For instance, the very reason that America boasts one of the greatest economic outputs in history is due to this.

But at what cost?

While economic productivity is undoubtedly beneficial, the trade-off is an education system that prioritizes obedience over critical thinking, routine over innovation, and standardized success over intellectual curiosity. When students are conditioned to follow instructions without question, they may excel in structured environments but struggle to adapt to an ever-changing world.

The ability to think independently, challenge ideas, and forge new paths is sacrificed in favor of efficiency.

While proper training for any career is necessary, at what point is there clearly a diminishing return?

If we do not prepare our students to think critically, solve problems, and learn true independence, our societal matrix will diminish.

Without a truly educated society, overreaching powers will take over, and we will have no idea it’s happening. Education is even more critical now than at any other time in history.

There doesn’t need to be a complete overhaul of the system. Not only is that essentially impossible, but if it were to fall apart, there wouldn’t be enough private schools and individuals willing to supplement public education for it to work, thus creating an even worse problem.

Three simple corrections would make a mountain of difference.

Shorten and loosen the structure of the school day across the board.

Reshape the culture around school—make it a community, not a network.

Hold students and families accountable.

These seemingly small changes would make profound differences that our students and their families desperately need.