What type of education do our students truly need?

I have started this voyage into the world of authentic learning, and I am beginning to truly question what the purpose of an education system should be.

Take Tony Wagner, for example, in his article, Rigor Redefined

In this article Wagner explores one main question - are we were preparing our students to become good citizens? He interviewed hundreds of business, education and non-profit leaders in an effort to truly understand what skills are needed in the modern workplace. Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, ability to collaborate, adaptibility, imagination and problem solving skills are cited by employers as the most important skills...

So, the question Wagner then asks is...are our students learning these skills in school?

From the examples Wagner gives of his observation of AP classes, the blatant answer is no.

According to Wagner, "schools... are succeeding at making adequate yearly progress but failing our students. Increasingly, there is only one curriculum: test prep." Although Wagner is examining the educational system in the United States of Amercia, I would have to extend his observations to our system in Canada.

As an Albertan teacher, how much of our time in the 9 and 12 years do we spend preparing our students to be successful in the governmental diploma exams? What is lost in this process?