[Izzy Dunne]

By the "real world", I meant the marketplace, the common world we think of as where we all influence the market by the purchases we make.

Although I can see why you call it the "real world" (it really is all we have to deal with), I picture the school system as NOT in the real world, since they do NOT have to compete with alternate providers (at least not much, in the eyes of the majority of parents).

They (school admins and policymakers) are in their own fantasy world, insulated by both governmental bureaucracy, and by their own elitist "training".

[moog]

by both governmental bureaucracy, and by their own elitist "training".

Sounds like a lot of politicians.