We cannot have real learning in school if we think it is our duty and our right to tell children what they must learn. We cannot know, at any moment, what particular bit of knowledge or understanding a child needs most, will strengthen and best fit his model of reality. Only he can do this.
John Holt, from How Children Fail
Indeed. The fact is, education is optional. Maybe on a legal level, maybe on a ethical level, maybe on a moral level, it is compulsory.
Practically, however, education is always optional on behalf of the kid. Sure, you can pick the 5-year-old up and carry and/or drag them kicking and screaming to be educated but then what…? You can’t MAKE them pay attention, any more than you can fly to the moon on your own power. Eventually though, the child grows up and gets heavier, until you can’t do that any more. Now, you could call in reinforcements at that point but… yeah… all you do is end up back at the 5-yo problem again.