I think you nailed it: school isn't optimized for creativity, it's optimized for creating workers. But I don't think that just applies to the factories of the 19th century.
The highest institutional rewards are given to the students who most effectively suppress their own desires, just like in the workplace. The students I knew in school who excelled at school didn't enjoy going to class, doing homework, or the challenge of memorizing answers for a test that they would forget as soon as the test was over. Most of them were smart, but the key ingredient was their ability to suppress their own desires. And I have no doubt that they have been successful in the workplace for the exact same reason.
The highest institutional rewards are given to the students who most effectively suppress their own desires, just like in the workplace. The students I knew in school who excelled at school didn't enjoy going to class, doing homework, or the challenge of memorizing answers for a test that they would forget as soon as the test was over. Most of them were smart, but the key ingredient was their ability to suppress their own desires. And I have no doubt that they have been successful in the workplace for the exact same reason.