In H.S. I had an excellent English teacher when we read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. We delved into the motivations, the background, the history of the time outside of the reading, and more. It did teach me to examine my beliefs and those of others during that time.
And yes. Most of education since the advent of Regents Exams to graduate (thanks to W. Bush) has caused more of an assembly line to be created from school to work.