Thus, any rebellion against State education is directed against the loved parents, not against the real aggressor, the State. Teachers function, in effect, as prison warders. Moreover, teachers, like everybody else, participate in the psychology of powerlessness and therefore benefit from the State's sub-leasing of power over the pupils. On the other hand, many teachers also like youngsters and are eager to help them grow up. Whatever the respective strenghts of such contradictory motivations amongst teachers, children are exposed to a lesson in adult hypocris.
Teachers say they want to help, but come on as aggressors.
Inspired by the anti-authoritarian criticism of education in the sixties, Herndon started giving lessons in creativity. At first glance, he succeeded very well. Then Herndon went a step further and told the pupils that they are free to come and go, despite what school rules, compulsory attendance laws and their parents said. Of course, this was a risky thing to do. Given real freedom to choose, they made an entirely different choice.