Plus the human factor wildcard ...
the student who will take on independent studies (informal as well as formal), which does have something to do with the teacher (see I acknowledge your worth, Sam :)) and the institutional culture - but ultimately, the quanta of education is up to the individual student. And, yeh, I also perceived some condescension in the article.
I refuse to be sucked into this debate
BUT
I recommend that anyone trying to come to grips with Herr Ricks academy thesis need only read two popular Afghanistan coming of age stories -- This Man's Army by Andrew Exum (aka Abu Muqawama) and The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney.
Give it a try; let me know what you think.