It’s an interesting point and appeals to my anarchist tendencies, but was it not broadly agreed that adults take decisions on behalf of minors, because an accumulation of experience and wisdom make them better equipped so to do ?

And was it not also broadly agreed that in the absence of a suitable adult, society would take those decisions, as best they could, for such children ?

Of course, one size does not fit all, but as was recently highlighted by pandemic, a great many children are, tragically, much safer in school than not.

If school as an institution were replaced, we’d still face those problems, I think.