Whist I normally write about the challenges facing practitioners in the vocational education space, I thought it wise to review the student experience before they reach us and the baggage they may bring from their school experience. I think there are implications for us, if we have a disaffected group graduating into our learning environments and feel the timing is right to discuss some of these issues here. I continue to be troubled by our school system that is high on pursuit of excellence rhetoric, but has internal systems which actively work against teachers who perform exceptionally.