But as adults we know full well, from our own experience even if we do not think about it or wish to admit it: one does not need to attend school to learn. I include “home-schools” in this. You do not need to be forced to attend lessons you do not want to attend to learn what you need in order to be successful in the areas you want and contribute... See more

Learning is essential. You will, literally, die very quickly without it. I agree knowing how to read is very important. People survive without it - but their lives are far better for being literate. I just don’t think one needs to be forced to attend school to do it.

The whole motivation for compulsory schooling is the idea that students will learn when forced to. When information is presented - in some form - they will gain it. So send students to school to learn.

it is common to think that some children just are not capable of learning subject x or topic y. That it is beyond their capacity. This is false. They can. If they wanted. But they often don’t want to. And why should they?

Let me say right from the outset that there are some, few people who enjoy their time at compulsory school and may even, it must be admitted, benefit enormously from it (although these are benefits that could be had far better without the coercion)

in the most perverse inversion of philosophy and morality - any person who fails to learn through compulsory schooling is regarded as having a “learning disorder”. And yet it is culture which has a “schooling disorder”.

almost all students - most especially those who we say do not "achieve the outcomes" - would be far better off doing something else. Something they were able to choose to do. Something other than compulsory school.

Learning. Education. School. Going to school does not mean you will be educated. Being educated does not mean you will learn. You cannot force someone to learn and nor can you prevent them from learning. But we force people to go to school.

changing one compulsory, coercive system for another - albeit labelled with educational buzz words like “individualized curriculum” or “students centered learning” or even “creativity” - is paddling in shallow waters when there is actually a deep and wonderful ocean waiting.