Intellectual Curiousity...WHAT????

All my teachers are constantly trying to challenge us by trying to convince us that we need to be "intellectually curious." But many of them never really give students a chance to show their curiousity. I would have to say that most students are scared of sharing their intimate thoughts for fear of rejection. I know teachers want students to think that school and classrooms are a safe place, we can share anything, blah blah blah. However isn't school the place that causes discontent? Most students feel comfortable among their friends, and quite honestly the open classroom with people I don't know and those who are judgmental is the last place I would EVER want to share my most intimate and private thoughts. If teachers want to hear curiosity then they should walk through the cafeteria, many would be surprised at the depth of the conversations, we talk about classes and some of the most profound thoughts I have ever heard have happened in Chipotle.
Instead of being curious we spend all our time doing homework. I spend 8 full dedicated hours doing homework this weekend. In how much of that time am I supposed to be curious. How can we allow our minds to wander and explore when our teacher demand so much of us. They all have expectations, and as good students we are going to meet them. But if their expectations are to go above and beyond, then give us some credit, we do a lot more than you think.