I think to encourage young people to drop out and take up a trade as soon as they think they know what they want to do with their life would be incredibly harmful. Many people think they have an idea of what they want to do at 14, but end up discovering an entirely new field in their course of learning. It would be hard to happen upon a career in physics if you were never introduced to it in high school, and weren't in an environment where you could learn easily at a high level about it.
I think kids should be encouraged do productive things they enjoy. That might mean school, that might mean work.
Nor would getting a job at 14 preclude a career in physics.
Most people who discover an interest do so in their own free time. I know very few creative works (programmers, architects, scientists) who picked up their careers because of a high school class. Do you?
Perhaps a kid might work at carpentry from 14 to 16. Then get interested in physics books he read in the library, and apply for university. Who knows. The real harm is that society has cut off a productive path (work) and forced students into a path that is neither productive nor enjoyable for 99% of the kids (school).
"Nor would getting a job at 14 preclude a career in physics."
It does, provided there is an age limit to go to physics. Like, you need a PhD, which can't be attended to if you are past 30 or something. These limits are artificial, but they are, anyway.
There must be ways around the PhD, but I bet they are a lot harder.
