20 Time as a model for the educational system

What if the entire educational system was modeled after the 20 Time approach?  In other words, what if all education were inquiry-based? What if the primary goal of early education was communication - including listening, reading, writing, and speaking - so that students would be able to obtain, learn, and share information independently?  What if students as young as primary school were then asked to form essential questions, research the answers, and then present their results?  What if teachers were viewed as experts and resources in their subject areas that students approached when they needed help or direction?  What if students were then connected with professional mentors with more specialized skills and expertise?  What if student assessment was then based on the products and innovations they come up with, like a portfolio?

I envision a school where teachers are not the content providers, but rather guides and inspiration for students.  Students would more or less take the same courses as they do now, but would form questions related to the topic area and then learn the content in the process of discovering the answers to their own questions.  Students would have access to more advanced levels of instruction as their needs and interests dictate.  Moreover, students in high school (or even middle school) would take a course that allows them to research any topic of interest to them.

Education would be individualized to meet student needs and interests
Students would understand why the information was important
Students would be motivated to master content
Students would be able to apply 21st century skills to find information on their own
Students would learn to rely on one another as resources with a high degree of expertise.

Students would demonstrate not only what they know, but what they can do with what they know.

Would this really work?  I don't know.  But I sure think it's a step in the right direction.