School is Necessary

To what extent do you agree that we don’t really need to go to school?

I once read a book, and I don't remember what it was called, but it said something like, 'school is a major problem in society, but it is also necessary'. I completely agree with this statement. School is just as bad as society. But for a select few, it is perfect. The comparisons are remarkably similar. The popular succeed and the ones making the highest marks/money thrive. Meanwhile, the rest of us fit in somewhere below on the ladder. Only so many can be the most athletic, the most social, get the best grades, be the most popular, wear the newest fashions. So the rest of us go to school, and depending on where we fit, it's somewhere between "meh" and hell. Ideally, we'd all go to schools like the ones I've been fortunate enough to go to. Ideally, we'd all live in suburban neighborhoods with 2.3 kids and a white picket fence and a two car garage. But never in history has this been possible, not even in the most socialist, communist territories. And for this reason, school teaches us an invaluable lesson: life isn't fair, so do your best. It's ridiculous to think that we can all be Ragged Dick. Fortunately people can find happiness elsewhere. Happiness is your own definition, and those who need to will eventually learn that. I think that in the end, most people grow up. Cliques break up, we move into the real world, and school means nothing anymore. Most of the things we learned, we forget. But there are things we don't forget, and they aren't factual. The ability to think, to make decisions, to comprehend the world we live in, and how to play "the game". Because after it's all said and done, most people move into society, some people move into the wilderness, and a select few continue rolling along in the upper echelons of popularity and wealth. Why should kids not be exposed to this from an early age?