thinkers vs tradesmen

Employers?

Leave them alone for a moment, think of the people themselves.

Most do not want to think for themselves and would rather do something mundane that pays the bills.

The percentage of people that actually want to think for their living is quite dismal in the grand scheme of things.

Secondly, look at who is more respected/has more resources in the society -- a "pop" star or a mathematician?

While the mathematician may be content with what s/he may have, society for the most part does not care about its "thinkers".

If we did, there would be far more folks out there doing things like pure mathematics, theoretical physics and other abstract areas that genuinely require thinking (not to discount the thinking in engineering and applied sciences, but pure sciences generally require more of a deidication than applied sciences and engineering).

So while engineering schools may be geared towards thinking, the question boils down to how many jobs out there require you to think as opposed to obey? How many people out there like people that think rather than do as they are told (while doing as you are told is certainly an important part of your learning experience, how many folks here have felt that they could find a better solution than the ones they have been asked to implement?).

No, if you want thinkers you need a society that encourages thinking.