Thought provoking article, I must say. I would argue that while the current state of affairs in schools is not welcome, a part of the problem also lies with the parents who put extraordinary emphasis on marks and ranks rather than the quality of learning. We see all the time the parents trying to put kids through extreme rigors to stay on the top – the top seems to be the only coeveted place in the minds of parents. Ideally, the schools are meant to put the knowledge out there, let the children digest, think, analyse the information, clarify their queries and sustain the hunger of the students. By all means, marks/ranks are probably needed to assess children's strengths and weaknesses but to make it the center-piece of education is not fair to the children. I agree with the author that you should let the kids do what seems to be their calling rather than forcing everything down their throats. At the same time, a good foundation (what the author calls three Rs) is important. A well-rounded development is what is required.