This is compounded by the 20th century North American intellectual infatuation with self-expression and newness for its own sake. As a result we are seeing a disintegration of society and a sense of rootlessness and hopelessness in the most pampered and educated part of the world and period of history. Our current schooling system is not addressing these problems and may be promoting the unfortunate trends and spending a vast amount of money doing it. I would like to suggest something completely different for our high schools. Our high schools take human beings from approximately the age of 12 to 18 and coop them up in rigid structure.
Adolescence is the most vital, volatile period for any of the higher animals.
We should not be surprised at the stresses and strains that occur when we treat our young humans as we do. I would totally change the structure and get rid of the four walls concept both physically and psychologically. I would have the students spend at least half of their time out in the world. This, and all other outdoor activities would be done in small groups of 10 to 20, preferably no more than 15, led by one or two good adult role models. This would fulfill our need as a higher social animal to relate to a pack or troop.