I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts. I've experienced first hand how the school system fails children. My 13 yr old has recently been through a period of de-schooling since returning from her father's to live with me. She is now taking an interest in areas that appeal to her. At school, she felt constricted by the system, pushed into things that made her feel uncomfortable with no way of exploring or understanding those feelings.
I love observing my 2 boys, it's absolutely fascinating to see the world from their perspective. It is so true that children are more clued up than we give them credit for.