> by the time I was in sixth grade, I had all sorts of authoritarian leftist ideas of exactly the sort I'd been subjected to by my teachers and my schools of the last seven years

I'm not sure i understand this correctly: you're saying that now, after having managed to un-brainwash yourself, you do not harbour leftist ideas any more? Do you consider this a good thing? (I'm clear on the authoritarian side of your story, and i agree)

Other than that, i totally agree—i experienced the public schools i went to precisely the way you describe. It's a soul-crushing experience.