[gentrysherrill]

The Twain quote is the best in my opinion... those of us who are passionate about learning will remove ourselves from the systems that impede us, or at least endeavor to minimize their impact on our lives. School, at least in its current implementation, is a supremely flawed model for many of the reasons discussed in this thread and elsewhere. The solution is not to just do away with it though - while for some of us this would be liberating, for a far greater number of people it would be harmful. Anarchy, be it political, economic, or educational, rarely generates cut and dry improvement.

As someone who has many issues with education, and has felt openly hostile toward it previously, for me adopting a relaxed attitude about it was the most important step. I realized I could go to classes, engage with professors and other students, and do reasonably well in terms of marks without allowing grades or assignments to impact my external intellectual curiosity. I've been much happier, and much more productive both inside and outside of school, since I let go of the frustration with "the system" and put the focus on myself.