Does full-time education really need to be done in a classroom of 30 kids to one adult? With modern technology is that really still the best option?

If you want to talk about smaller student-to-teacher ratios, I'll happily join your side in that fight. As a former teacher I can't emphasize how much good this would do for our students. I would also advocate for some sort of government-subsidized home education program for the first few years of a kid's life, where the parents are teaching them the basics before they start school. I think easing kids into full-time school with something like that would be a great thing.

There is no such thing as enough time spent with parents. As far as a child is concerned, there might not enough time in a day. As species (as mammals, really) we have evolved to be completely dependent on our parents during the formative years. The bond is essential for survival. There is ever reason to think that paleolithic never left their child alone. They clearly had the tools to bring their children everywhere they went. Monkeys carry their children everywhere. This is the environment we evolved in. I want to make it clear I'm not here to fault anyone raising their children. The problem is in society. It just is not meant for raising children. The problem with that is, child rearing should be our 1 concern. It really isn't. It's not even an after thought.

OK. I don't 100% agree with your position but I see where you're coming from, and I do think you're right that our society as it is now is not conducive to child-rearing. There are a lot of social issues at play here. Personally I think the 8-hour work day is a huge drain on families. So many people work 8 hours and commute for an hour or two. Add in daily chores and sleep and you don't leave much time for family bonding. That is a huge issue.

I also think we've moved away from the "it takes a village" style of child-rearing as young adults move further away from their families and as a result kids grow up without knowing their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. I don't think that's a good thing either.

I do think it's important to foster a sense of independence early on. I think there's such a thing as kids being TOO attached to their parents. I also think time spent away from parents and in the company of peers, navigating new situations independently, is equally important for a child's development as time spent with their parents.

But I see what you're saying. Sorry if it may have seemed like I was attacking your viewpoint.