I have to completely disagree with this. I think in modern education, it is understood that problem solving and analysis, and being able to learn something and then immediately apply that new knowledge to a different problem, is seen as the most important tool for students today. And I believe that most schools emphasize this today. I found this to be true when I was in high school, college, and also grad school.
I also have a very close friend who is now an elementary school teacher (4th grade), and says this as well (they don't just teach with rote memorization). Recently, she was telling me about the subjects she was teaching and the different learning tools they were employing in the class room, and we were having a discussion about how great it was that they are focusing on problem solving and knowledge discovery and not just on rote memorization.
I also have a very close friend who is now an elementary school teacher (4th grade), and says this as well (they don't just teach with rote memorization). Recently, she was telling me about the subjects she was teaching and the different learning tools they were employing in the class room, and we were having a discussion about how great it was that they are focusing on problem solving and knowledge discovery and not just on rote memorization.