more on the object of education

Here is something I've been thinking over recently and just this morning discussed with my daughter:

Interests––Have we many keen interests soliciting us outside of our necessary work? If we have, we shall not be enslaved by vapid joys.

Interests are not to be taken up on the spur of the moment; they spring out of the affinities which we have found and laid hold of. And the object of education is, I take it, to give children the use of as much of the world as may be.

I think this is one of the most important parts of homeschooling.... or perhaps of family life, since I know some kids who go to school and yet have maintained keen interests and avoided enslavement to vapid joys.