The ever eloquent Sir Ken Robinson contends in this TED Talk that the culture of American education contradicts three principles that make human life thrive: diversity, curiosity and creativity. Humans naturally embody those qualities, but school has become a system based on conformity and testing, qualities that don't use the natural learning tendencies inherent within every child.
He makes an argument for individualizing learning, but also for valuing teachers and thinking of their professional development as an investment in children and the future.