Should education 'stretch' a person?

I think by 'Stretch' you mean should someone be challenged to use their full ability. I think education should stretch you as if you don't prepare for the worst when you are young then you would never be able to cope with problems later in life. By stretching children, we encourage them to perform to the best of there ability, whether at school, work or even in hobbies otherwise we would be a society filled with people not acheiving their full potential in life.