But then, our Prussian style school system ISN'T designed to create independent, free thinking citizens.
It's designed to teach kids (future adults) to DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!!
Even with a proposed new “magical” system, one will have to have measurable levels of achievement. If certain groups have the “political pull” to avoid being held to any standard it will fail too !
Before you blindly criticize the “Prussian system” look at the number of Nobel Prize winners it produced. Particularly back in the days of Prussia and the German Empire. Compare it to our system as it existed then & the UK's production during a similar time period. I don't see creativity stifled.
Any system adopted will fail without a common standard all are held to. That standard includes discipline as well as learning.
Also we don't really have the Prussian system. It was very selective. Very early in a students progress it marked you for "trades" (Nothing wrong with the "trades" if you get to freely choose it!) or higher education. We have a system that doesn't even require our teachers to have any mastery of the subjects they teach (And I'm not talking PhD level mastery!). That in itself is not very Prussian! Aditionally we require very little demonstrable subject learning in our students. How can we when it's supersatureated with poltics, union jobism & racial animosity. Until those three things are removed no system will work !
“Anything is better than what we have now.”
Actually, MY public schools are just wonderful and do everything right. Otherwise, I’d be a greedy idiot to send my kids there.