The Problem with Schools

You simply have to read Paul Graham's entire essay entitled Why Nerds Are Unpopular. It is somewhat lengthy, but it will richly reward the minutes you invest in it. It's not a new piece, but I just came across it today. (Hat tip to Eric at Classical Values) Here's just one brilliant snippet:

Where I grew up, it felt as if there was nowhere to go, and nothing to do. This was no accident. Suburbs are deliberately designed to exclude the outside world, because it contains things that could endanger children.

And as for the schools, they were just holding pens within this fake world. Officially the purpose of schools is to teach kids. In fact their primary purpose is to keep kids locked up in one place for a big chunk of the day so adults can get things done. And I have no problem with this: in a specialized industrial society, it would be a disaster to have kids running around loose.