When did governments start requiring children to go to school, and why were teachers expected to teach a certain curriculum? If you have read any of John Taylor Gatto's books you know the answers to those questions.

If you are not familiar with the history of public education there is a very interesting post at another blog that gives a very good narrative of how we ended up with our public education system. After reading other books on the subject (including John Gatto's major work on the subject) I found this post to be very factual and correct in every point.

You can find the post here: Why Don't We Teach Children to be Leaders

The author points out some very good reasons to either send your children to an elite private school or to educate them at home, where you are free to encourage questions, think for themselves, and discover their talents, while the kids in public schools are taught the basic skills (which employers need).

If you are not free to educate your kids at home or send them to an elite school because of finances or because your country does not allow those choices, you can still help them in the evenings to develop their leadership skills by helping them find and develop their talents, ask questions, and become independent thinkers.

I hope you will read the post at the above link and give your children the education that will propel them beyond their peers. It is within your reach.