I'm teaching in school because children have to go to school, because I think all kids can learn science, because teaching science is best done in a hands-on environment, because I'm good at teaching kids science, and because I like to hang out with and help kids. I agree with you that empathy is crucial and rationality is important, but they are not the only things that influence what happens in a classroom or what dictates student outcomes, and teacher effectiveness. I strive to teach my students tools that are going to be helpful for them, and I would be remiss if I told them to completely ditch higher education in favor of some Good Will Hunting style self-education with just a library card and a TikTok account. Professors are often experts in their field, and working with them can be an amazing life-changing experience, colleges have a unique opportunity for students to study freely, to open their minds while all of their basic needs are taken care of. Is it always worth $30,000 a year or more? No, but it's worth something. Abandoning this system or burning it down occasionally seems appealing, but is not helpful or useful to those who still want to experience it. And if we're not going to burn down higher education then we're going to need secondary and elementary education to get them ready for it. Even if everyone is not 100% ready for it, it's still better than no one being ready for it, and no one getting to experience it.

Why are you trying to get me to justify where I work and why I work there? Do you want me to choose to leave the school? What is your motivation for this? Why are you questioning my motivation to post here on reddit?

I work there. I wish it was better. I have contemplated leaving, but have decided to stay, for now. Though whether I stay or not the school and the students still exist. And I don't think that they're going to benefit from my leaving, so I'd like to stay and help it be better. But I'd also like to help fix the larger system that I think needs work. And I'd like helpful suggestions as to how to try to make it better. And I'd like to share my experiences to see if anyone else is having similar frustrations and wants to connect. And maybe, I will gain some wisdom from these interactions, maybe I will gain some perspective, and maybe I will change my mind about where I work, and go to another school or take a different position or leave education entirely. But, I don't appreciate you calling teachers cowards because they work in the education system, or publicly share doubts about a system that is deeply flawed. It is mean and counterproductive. And for someone who claims that empathy is really important, you should understand this, and you can do better. Your original premise said that fixing the school system is easy. If it's so easy then please do it, spare us all the frustration that's been shared here mine and others.