Ferrer's approach was secular, rejecting both state and church involvement in the educational process whilst giving pupils large amounts of autonomy in planning their work and attendance.
fˈɜːɹɚz ɐpɹˈoʊtʃ wʌz sˈɛkjʊlɚ, ɹᵻdʒˈɛktɪŋ bˈoʊθ stˈeɪt ænd tʃˈɜːtʃ ɪnvˈɑːlvmənt ɪnðɪ ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃənəl pɹˈɑːsɛs wˌaɪlst ɡˈɪvɪŋ pjˈuːpəlz lˈɑːɹdʒ ɐmˈaʊnts ʌv ɔːtˈɑːnəmi ɪn plˈænɪŋ ðɛɹ wˈɜːk ænd ɐtˈɛndəns.