How can one reconcile the son's desire to devote himself to seeking religious knowledge and his aversion to the school environment due to its evils, with his parents' insistence on compelling him to study?

The rights of parents, especially the mother, are immense, and their contentment brings good in this world and the hereafter. Seeking religious knowledge has its virtues, and its importance has been established by religious texts, as is the case with studying other beneficial sciences.

We advise combining both types of knowledge by seeking righteous friends and cooperating with them, and by utilizing holidays and free time to learn religious sciences, which are easily accessible. If there is no way to avoid religious trials (fitna) through studying, then your parents do not have the right to command you to do something that is harmful to you, for obedience is only in what is good (ma'ruf), and there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator.