This paper investigates the implications of some social anarchists' views on education for thinking about authority, educational paternalism and compulsory schooling. In the first part of the paper, some key concepts in social anarchist theory will be introduced in order to demonstrate the importance of education for social anarchists. The paper then discusses anarchist educational ideas with regard to the content and process of education. Potential justifications of authority and educational paternalism receive special attention. The final part of the paper revolves around a discussion of compulsory schooling understood as a paternalist practice. It aims to contribute to ongoing debates by evaluating the educational institution of the school, and the practice of compulsory schooling, from a social anarchist perspective. The pragmatic character of this approach is reflected by some final remarks on the feasibility and desirability of compulsory schooling in imagined anarchist societies and our existing societies. This paper is aimed at anarchist and non-anarchist philosophers of education. Anarchist theory critically scrutinises all authority and hierarchy and takes no existing social structure, institution or practice in any area of life for granted. An engagement with anarchist thinking on educational issues such as authority, directiveness, educational paternalism and compulsory schooling may help anarchists and non-anarchists alike to enrich and deepen their own views on certain practices.