@Chzikken_1486@Humpleupagus@Kerosene@ceo_of_monoeye_dating@Paultron For me, grade school was total suppression of masculinity. No roughhousing, no contact sports. Got detention for defending myself from older kids (one of which turned out to be a gay rapist in later years), girls could do whatever they wanted like pass notes and work as groups.
I was reading at a high school level in grade 4 and passed some weird endless spelling test at record levels.
In high school I got tired of their shit and basically just showed up to collect the paperwork and still scored top of class, exempt from writing exams based on my grades.
They tried to deny me credits because of attendance and eliminated me from a university sponsorship. Gave it to a kid whose dad was a dentist and had an indoor swimming pool in his house.
If the system actually worked to promote people with real potential we'd be living in a different world.