But, generally, all these schools stick to the same curriculum as other schools, they all put subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic on a pedestal. There are a few exceptions, where schools are different in what they present to children. The most notable ones are the Rudolf Steiner or Waldorf schools, that believe children can tap into a universal source to develop their talents, without having to receive facts and instructions from teachers. And there are the so-called 'free schools', where children vote to decide how the school is run and where children have a great amount of freedom to choose what to do. The problem with any school is, however, that children are put in an environment that is not conducive to learning.
Schools are more into child-minding than into learning.
The sheer number of children makes it hard for anyone to concentrate on any problem. Thinking things over, considering alternatives and imagining solutions, these are all processes that require a degree of privacy that school does not provide. Contemplation is ruled out by the constant presence of children who make noisy sounds, music, wild movements and other distractions. Schools do not offer children many incentives to learn, there is not much of a reward for excellence in school. The subject matter offered by school is not much fun either, children would rather watch TV if given a choice.