A father, known on TikTok as @cowdreyfamily, has sparked significant controversy after revealing his decision to withdraw his 13-year-old son from school, opting for an unconventional approach to education. Despite receiving no formal schooling, the father maintains that his teenage son has 'learnt more' through practical experience as a tradie and via direct interaction with others, a claim that has divided opinions across social media platforms.

The father elaborated on his rationale, stating that his son is not merely assisting in the business but is 'a joint owner' and 'gets a percentage' of the profit. This hands-on involvement, according to the TikToker, provides a more valuable learning experience than a traditional classroom setting. He expressed his personal aversion to returning to a regular '9-5' job or 'being under a boss,' sentiments that seem to influence his educational philosophy for his son. The father insisted he held nothing 'against people who want to be at school or mainstream educated,' but firmly believed this path was more suitable for his child 'at this point.'

Addressing concerns from local authorities, the father confirmed he had several meetings with the council regarding his son's educational status. He explicitly stated, 'He's not schooled at all now, so I've completely pulled him out,' clarifying further, 'No - just nothing.' He proudly asserted that his son has 'learnt more in the last couple of months being self-employed, people interaction, confidence.' Currently, the teen spends his days 'trading' and undertaking 'gardening' tasks, such as 'sweeping and bits like that.' The father underscored his belief that in ten years, his son 'will be able to run his own business, would have learnt communication with strangers, learnt money handling and so much more,' expressing 'No concerns here.'

The video, uploaded recently, quickly garnered over 257,000 views, leading to a substantial and mixed reaction from the internet. Critics voiced profound concern, with one viewer lamenting, 'Sorry but you’re ruining his life, these skills he’s learnt mean absolutely nothing to employers without basic qualifications.' Another questioned the long-term implications: 'What if age 30 he wants a career change and has no way of retraining because he needs GCSEs?' A third commentator offered a 'brutal opinion,' stating, 'It's so cruel to disadvantage kids like this.'

Conversely, many users rallied in support of the father's decision. Supporters advised him to 'ignore all these comments,' suggesting they were primarily from 'kids' who 'haven’t got a clue what they’re talking about.' They encouraged him to 'do you buddy if you and your family are happy that’s what matters!' Some commenters also raised points about the relevance of traditional education in a rapidly changing world, with one social media user convinced that 'Half of the stuff the kids are learning now won’t even be needed in the next ten years!' This sentiment was further bolstered by observations on 'The impact of technology and AI,' leading to the conclusion that 'the jobs they are working towards won’t even exist.' The debate highlights a significant societal division on the value of formal academic qualifications versus practical, vocational learning in today's evolving landscape.