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It seems like one of the most effective and maybe the cheapest ways of educating the students is to borrow from the wisdom of the ancient. Western philosophy is rich in resources to envision a more humane education. Virtue ethics advocated by Aristotle and other philosophers place the development of the whole character at the center of one's education. In this view education is integral to living a good life. In the Plato's Republic, the guardians of the city go through a series of rigorous training in music (temperament), gymnastics (strength), and philosophy. How people should learn is ultimately defined by what is necessary to lead a good life. This good life is not just about happiness but also justice.  Does it cost more to have kids follow a curriculum oriented toward creating workers of the capitalist economy or one that is centered around character development? I don't have the answer but implementing virtue-based education does not have to cost a lot. The most important pedagogical resources are students themselves and the familiar environments we have relative easy access to. Pen, crayon and paper do not cost more in the virtue-based education than in the capitalist education. But how we use those tools makes a difference.