"followers and sycophants."

Too true. My sister taught in public schools for thirty years and early on she told me she didn't like the 'teach to the test' curriculum' they forced her to use. She told me that it was a 'train good workers who would follow orders'. She specialized in teaching "troubled" young children- most of whom she diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD and taught them the way she believed children should be taught. And was sued by a parent for not 'following the rules'. The school refused to back her so she left that district and taught in a smaller city where she could teach as she liked but still had to teach to the test but taught those young children to think for themselves. I'm proud of her for what she did.

And she is satisfied with her life's work.