I definitely agree with the first part of your post. The current school system does provide stability to the nation, while also creating a culture of conformity among the student population. I even agree that the students are taught what to think rather than how to think critically or creatively. I do not believe, however, that students who are brought up through the traditional K-12 public education “will never be able to truly think for themselves nor escape the metaphorical confines of the classroom.” Many intelligent and determined students graduate from public high schools, due to economic constraints or other factors that do not allow a private education, and they end up attending the nation’s top colleges, such as Williams. While the public school system has its obvious flaws, I find it unfair to assume that just because certain students went through public school they will never truly think for themselves. The public school system as a whole might not focus on or promote critical thinking, but generalizing that no student will ever be able to think critically because of their public education is a huge assumption. Graduating from a private high school compared to a public high school might give students an advantage in critical thinking skills, but that does not mean public school graduates will never think freely or critically.