We found out yesterday that Sweetie made the Dean's List for his first semester at the university. Whoa. Back up a few years ago when he was not sure if he wanted to go to college so he decided to include college requirements in his homeschooled subjects just in case. The boy never studied more that a few hours in the morning since we agree that "The secret lies entirely in the fact that education is as effective as it is pleasant, unhurried, casual, and is as ineffective as it is stressed to be important."
He took a study course and received some other study assistance that helped to clarify his goals as a student. He started taking classes at a community college at age 16 - one here, a couple there and decided that he would try going to the university. And there he is on the Dean's List.

I guess this is more of a testament to the fact that education doesn't have to consist of years of boring government school work than anything else. We're fortunate to live in a time when there are lots of viable educational alternatives that suit the various needs of our kids (without drugging them). Parents just need to be brave enough to step away from the system and find out what works for their kids.