Isn't schooling for younger kids an institutional killing of their personal freedom?

There's a popular Bible phrase (I'm not Christian) which goes like this: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-1.htm There's a time for play so naturally there will be a time for serious study. Our schools in Singapore are gradually incorporating project based learning and learn-through-play concepts in their curriculum. Schooling for children is not purely about learning academics. It is also a place for them to learn discipline and form social bonds with other peers.