The more conspiratorial side of me likes to think that school is a prison camp used by vested interests to teach American citizens from a young age that they have no rights and to stymie any sort of real intellectual development by providing large globs of homework and projects.
But some people require more than the standard to weigh them down. Like in Harrison Bergerson.[0] And the only reason that they don't force extra work to match is that citizens would recognize the inherent unfairness and be offended that their children weren't thought worthy of extra work. So instead they paint it as a way to make your application look better to colleges. (Think hi-cap.)
> school is a prison camp used by vested interests to teach American citizens from a young age that they have no rights and to stymie any sort of real intellectual development
There's a pretty strong argument made that that is actually the case and its intentional, backed by actual history.
Have you read The Underground History of American Education? It's extremely interesting and well referenced. Read it free here, or get the print book on amazon if you like. http://johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
So the equivalent amount of schooling in all other industrialised nations is a separate thing? It's just in the US that it was engendered as a prison camp? There's a fair amount of tinfoil in that claim.
For what it's worth, I did once read in a (To me obviously left leaning.) textbook that the nation-state and nationalism were invented by France through the use of something approximating the modern school system.
I searched the web, but couldn't find another source for you. Sorry.
Honestly, you're giving the entire institution of education waaaayyy too much credit. I think they're just trying to teach children with as little expense possible, in a way that panders to the lowest common denominator and what you see in public education today is the end result. Homework is just a happy byproduct of a poorly structured industry :p They can't be evil geniuses and inept at the same time can they? At least that's how I view it.
I think educational institutions attempt to shape young people in a way they imagine makes them contributing members of society.
At least, that was the starting point. What it has boiled down to (getting back to pandering to the lowest common denominator, the bad system structure in it's entirety and desire to spend the least amount of money + the fact that it's flipping hard to get kids to do what you want, ask a parent) is that they are now basically just hoping young people don't get into trouble. Just get through to college without ruining your life or the life of someone else, and hey.. maybe you'll even learn something.
This type of system doesn't breed the next Steve Jobs, but it probably does get a few extra kids of the street and maybe impart some knowledge.
But some people require more than the standard to weigh them down. Like in Harrison Bergerson.[0] And the only reason that they don't force extra work to match is that citizens would recognize the inherent unfairness and be offended that their children weren't thought worthy of extra work. So instead they paint it as a way to make your application look better to colleges. (Think hi-cap.)
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron
Disclosure: I am in high school.