The law demands that young people go to school because society has a clear interest in making sure that they do. Elementary through secondary education provides (or is supposed to provide) students with basic skills that they need to become productive members of society, in whatever way they choose to produce. The benefit to society as a whole outweighs the cost to the state. To the individual student, the reality is that one's options in life are almost always dependent on the amount of education they have. As some of observed, it is possible for people to be successful without an education, but they have fewer options, and have to work even harder to overcome it. Another reality, beyond the obvious importance of simply not being ignorant, is that jobs in our society are becoming increasingly specialized, and they often demand certifications and other credentials that are simply unattainable for anyone without education.