I too think that MS/HS mimic parts of society, and in some way amplify the worst...for example, the measure of productivity in society is not how you socially succeed in HS. The socially most powerful students are not those with the best learning skills, the highest test scores...and while we have professional sports and celebrity, we over emphasis sports in schools. In part because few participate as players so other roles are created...rally squads, cheer leaders...hmm part of this is sex roles too. So how might we reconfigure school so that students who are thes best are honored, become role models? Perhaps real student governance...or removing sports from public school and making it a community endeavor. And how do we wean ourselves from child celebrity? And don;t get me started about maintaining social norms for student's behavior...