Nice Post!

Yes I have to wade in on this one. As a Band Director in the schools for 13 yrs & Music School Owner/Administrator for over 25 yrs I have some pretty strong views with what's wrong with education these days.

First, we have forgotten true purpose of Education.

The purpose of Education is to learn how to learn. It's that whole teach a man to fish thing, but primary to a successful education. And if you can attach a bit of love for learning in at the same time, bonus.

Second, we have too many teacher's teaching subjects rather than students. It's impossible to teach a piano anything but a student has far more interesting possibilities.

Third, I've seen too many educators, administrators mostly, focus on the politics and career ladder climbing rather on the needs of the students. It's that "gotta be number one" thing that capitalism colors.

Fourth, we put too much weight on testing the easy objective things like memorizing facts rather than the more difficult to evaluate, like the ability to reason, and formulate arguments and solutions.

Fifth. I am deeply concerned about the current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her "Christian" right beliefs that schools should be privatized for profit and curriculum dictated by Religious ideology. If this trend gains support it will take education in USA back to the 19th century.

Lastly. If I only had one thing to change in the system I would just put more qualified enthusiastic teachers in the class rooms so student teacher ratio is no more that 15 students per teacher. If we did just that and nothing more education would start to be an investment that would pay off in spades.