Is schooling absolutely necessary? [Article]

This will upset the apple-cart for a lot of folks - and that's exactly why it's worth a read:

Think about how we learn as adults: do we need to learn things by a certain time? Maybe, but only if that is tied to something real -- you're applying for a job that requires certain skills, or you're working on a project that requires that you learn certain things. But most of the time, learning goes at your own pace, based on what you're interested in and how much time you have and all kinds of other factors unique to your life situation. 

Then why do we insist that kids MUST learn certain things by the time they reach a certain age?