No one will ever know it all but 'know it all's' seem to see this as a laudable pursuit that governs their meddling with students, teachers and grading systems that are designed to separate wheat from chaff.
I think I was deemed chaff unfairly.

Yes, knowing 'why' is crucial to the foundation of on going learning.
Learning what simple questions to ask is very illuminating.
I believe the most important part of every class subject is how to learn. We learn from understanding, not by rote.
This is basically about the old, give a fish vs. teaching to fish, wisdom.

Listening to all of you is quite worrisome regarding my son who graduates next year to become a history teacher.