[ZenGum]

Indeed, standardised testing - especially when the teacher's career depends on their class doing well - leads to rote learning of what is needed for the test and nothing more. All in all, it's just another brick in the wall.

Dropping mandatory attendance would lead to the production of an uneducated underclass with no prospects of betterment, no chance of a livable income, and little reason to be part of society. That would suck. That was why universal education was mandated in the first place. I'm not saying everyone should go to college or university, or be all academic and stuff, but everyone should get enough education to make them able to support themselves and be engaged with society around them. The latter is why I am opposed to home schooling.