Who's minding the kids?

I recently had a conversation about virtual education with a couple of dads in my son's class.  We were at a birthday party where all the kids were jumping on indoor trampolines, so everyone was just making small talk.  The conversation started with GPS vs. map preferences and went into a technology discussion that led to virtual learning.

We talked about MOOCs (a concept they understood, but hadn't heard the term) and how college as we know could change by the time these rambunctious, jumping second graders hit college.  Then it came...why can't we do significant virtual learning in the early grades.  There's nothing to really say they can't but the comment I made gave them sent them in a different direction.

My comment/thought/question surrounding large scale virtual learning at home is one of daycare.  Whether we want to admit it or not, schools serve as a place for kids to be while both parents are working.  If schools didn't exist in some form, what would working parents do with their kids?