The school is correct (Score 1)

In the real workforce (and I've been in it for over 12 years) things don't work the way you might think. You need to learn the basic skills that will be required of you in order to contribute to the team once you are in the real world, and that is what the school is teaching you now.

As a junior engineer you will be tasked with small projects (bug fixes, etc) until you prove your abilities, and then be allowed to contribute to the larger picture (design and such). Until that time, you are effectively a non-voting partner in the team relationship.