Funny thing is, I came to this conclusion based on my own educational experiences:

Two years, teachers college in a pilot program. There, we kids could ask a question, we'd all be shuffled off to the appropriate college teacher and get it answered. No chit. Imagine, just imagine.

Then, six or seven years in a one room school. There, you progressed at your own rate-class/year did not matter. The division there was kindergarten to 6th grade, and 7th through 12th on the other side of the tiny school house. (Two teachers, under 30 kids total). This is how I ended up reading college level (with comprehension, mind you) at age 10.

From there, I ended up in your modern type school-hundreds of kids over three grades. It was a miserable experience overall, the work was easy and nothing really got me engaged. Pulled As and Bs with 10 minute reviews of texts and was bored out of my mind.

I am afraid my own child may have his creativity and natural curiosity squashed by the education system. It's a big fear, he's smart and obviously also a divergent thinker.