"HES is a product of Taiwanese experience," says Cheng, who formerly taught at the Forest School. Li Ya-ching of PCEC says that, though she can appreciate the "free learning" schools abroad, Taiwan lacks the requisite cultural and political environment.
「全人是土法煉鋼下的產物」，曾在森林小學任教的程延平不諱言；李雅卿也表示，她個人雖然欣賞國外的「自由學習」學校，但台灣並沒有這樣的文化與政治條件。