I couldn't agree with your later points more. Don't fret the 16-year old mind, though. It's been that way since the dawn of time and it is innately natural.

But beyond that - I wouldn't have a problem with "free" college if people spent a couple years in service, too. And that doesn't have to be military. Able bodied young adults are needed across the country to do various tasks and maintain infrastructure and civil services. Yes, we even need people to clean neighborhoods. A couple years of service is a fair exchange for an education. Maybe the universities would have to focus on educating people again, too.

This may end up being a solution to the single parent crisis, too. Giving kids some structure during their service years would go a long way towards fixing some of the deficits.