Tiica - as a child I was very inquisitive and possibly an annoyance (still I am I!) to the elders whose take was that 'a child ought to be seen and not heard'. I pretty much resented this attitude of elders as I felt this in a way caused stagnation of mental development of children.
As children I felt we were scared of elders because of the punishment(s) that lay in store if we dared question the 'norm', so most innovative ideas were stiffled. What we learnt was to emulate the actions of the elders. The elders were always right - irrespective of facts and often silence those with ideas with comments such as "lugezigezi" person. I recall a scenario once with the nuns back in Ug - I questioned how a loving God we were taught about and aspire to his godly ways, could allow those who purpoted to be his representatives, lay into us with heavy caning(beatings) just because we had spoken venacular or dared to grow our hair above a certain length! Education was through fear rather than enjoyment to learn and assimilate what was taught.
I think now I have kids of my own - I try to make sure I listen to them as individuals and hear what they've got to say for themselves before bringing down the law, so as to work with them in learning all there is to learn, be it in academia or not. I would like to see an open learning approach with measured discipline whereupon children are taught to be aware of making decisions which carry outcomes that they have a role in, infused in our society.
I don't necessary believe education starts when kids go to nursery or in an educational institution, or that it ends at university or college. It starts from the parents/extended family members or family friends. Education continues well after the academic subjects and we all have an obligation to setting worthwhile examples to the next generation.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."