1. I dispute your assertion that children 'lose that curiosity right around the time they start being stuffed into classrooms' - I don't think most people lose their curiosity. I think some people who chafe against rules and conformity may, but I don't see most people being in that category.
2. I also find being able to focus on subjects that are not innately interesting is a useful skill, as are conforming to simple rules. There can be other reasons for following rules than oppressive social control. Maybe preschool teachers have to show up on time so the children in their care can be supervised appropriately, or drivers have to stay in their lanes to avoid accidents.
3. 'because they demonstrably don't work at conveying a "base level of education"' - 99% of people in the USA are literate. I don't know of comparable data, but nearly everybody can preform arithmetic too.
Actually, the recorded literacy rate is 86% in the USA[0].
The only number I can find for numeracy is this study [1], and depending on whether 'level 1' is considered numerate, it seems to show that between 5% and 20% of the US population is innumerate.
2. I also find being able to focus on subjects that are not innately interesting is a useful skill, as are conforming to simple rules. There can be other reasons for following rules than oppressive social control. Maybe preschool teachers have to show up on time so the children in their care can be supervised appropriately, or drivers have to stay in their lanes to avoid accidents.
3. 'because they demonstrably don't work at conveying a "base level of education"' - 99% of people in the USA are literate. I don't know of comparable data, but nearly everybody can preform arithmetic too.