I think much of this is a natural by-product of a "product based" educational system. We organize our desired goals to be reached per grade level and per course (usually specific content knowledge and skills), then create tests to assess that knowledge, then design curriculum and train teachers to teach to the test. Mainstream education is rarely investigatory, community based, or process oriented. As you say that you never learned "how to learn" - it is probably because teachers were so focused on delivering content to meet their objectives, they neglected to first understand where the class - and each individual student! - was in their own learning process. I don't fault the teachers for this, as it takes great strength and creativity to work within the system while working against its values.