Junior high and high school are intended* to teach us discipline (read: conditioning) so that we can comply with the needs of the work force, consumer society and democratic system. This is invaluable to the overall social order. It should be clear, however, that the people who run this country (in terms of politics and business) are usually the ones who learned how to live outside this system and not only get away with it but be rewarded for it.

There is little value to improving education. If we did, we'd have too many chefs. The education system acts as a Brave New World for pumping out Betas (honors students) and Gammas. Alphas and Deltas are those who choose not to abide by the rules; the former are successful at it, the latter unsuccessful.

* This may be more of an evolutionary side effect rather than a deliberate effort, I'm unsure.