Either they want to learn or they don't. If they want to learn, they will seek it. It they don't, they will obstruct/impair/damage the process so that others find learning more difficult.
Distance learning (and homeschooling to a lesser degree) shift the responsibility to the student, where it belongs.
I absolutely agree
I think any schooling should last until about age 12 to 14. Then the true scholars may want to continue, but others will want to be trained in apprenticeships while learning financial skills, citizenship skills, and honing their interests.
Most kids want to start life at 14 to 16, and could if permitted.
Many years ago, as a 16 year old high school drop out I went to a local high school to see if I could enroll in the night school program. I was told I couldn’t do that until I was 21. When I asked why, the principal got up, closed the door and explained,
if we let high school kids go to night school, this place would be empty, kids would be out working, marrying, and doing their lives, and the regular schools would close.
The entire system is a lie.