I'm also not a big fan of formal education. In particular, the way we teach mathematics in schools is whacked, to put it bluntly.

Learning math in a vacuum is why people don't feel it applies to them. I think mathematics that is taught in the context of real life situations would be much more effective, and there our lots of military NCO specific uses for math, even advanced math.

Same thing with English. English is generally taught as a rule unto itself, and nearly everyone sees the internal contradiction between the way English is taught, and the way it is actually used, which makes them rightfully dismiss formal English instruction.

There is much more wrong with formal education, but that's my top two right there.