Wow, this is totally not my experience! I'm quite shocked by your characterization. My kids love school and their friends there, have plenty of time to play, etc. Of course, it isn't absolutely perfect, some of the academics are off kilter for their abilities, but there are many benefits that make up for it. And they certainly are filled with joy when they think about school, their teachers, and friends.

I suppose there must be kids for whom any particular type of schooling would be a terrible fit (whether that be public, private, home, charter, other), and might seem cruel or torturous for that particular child, but to consider traditional public school as cruel seems bizarre to me. But a fun & thought provoking topic, perhaps?