Traditional schooling operates on a set of beliefs whose errors have long been exposed. Its teaching is based on outmoded and ineffective concepts of the teaching-learning process. The reason for the failure of the traditional education system is, ironically, that uses "schooling." Children learn, not from schooling, but from living. And for them, living means playing.

Luz and I have a friend* in Chicago who runs an organization called The Children's Learning Project. After extensive research and observation by both himself and others. They concluded that what children need most of all is play, and what they need least is schooling, especially the usual type that we adults experienced. We practitioners of homeschooling might well heed that conclusion: The more our activities resemble the practices and theories of regular school, the less effective they are (educationally and/or otherwise); and the more our children's, and our, activities resemble play (and leisure) the more effective they are.

Our son, now 21, grew up without schooling. In fact, he never even looked at a schoolbook, and we didn't "school" him ever. When he decided to enter college, he knew he was ready. Now a Sophomore, he's in the top 2% academically and plans to graduate early with three degrees. He has an apartment off campus, a part-time job, and is an intern with a private company. He manages it all well, we believe, because he has always been in charge of his own life and learning.

Luz and I were inspired by the writings of John Holt (Growing Without Schooling, etc.) and Mark Twain, "Don't let your schooling get in the way of your education." Our kid seemed to know that instinctively, since his favorite expression was Churchill's, "I love learning, but I hate being taught." It all leads us to our favorite expression: Trust Your Kids.

* Our friend, Bruce Thomas, is a graduate of St. Pauls school, Harvard and Oxford, so he's no kook. He regularly finds proof that children learn more and better when they direct their own lives, including all their learning. The child's need is for access.