The self-directed learning journey
Our friends at East Kent Sudbury created this infographic, which reflects the roadmap we have seen many young people embark on, and can also recognise in ourselves. It can be true at both a micro and a macro level. It is not always a linear direction - we see toing and froing between these states.
further Resources on understanding Self-directed learning:
Democratic School Education
A short explanation of the philosophy and history of the democratic education model.
Thank you to the Sprouts channel.
Sands School
A charming film made by students from Sands school in Ashburton, Devon.
School Circles
Sociocratic Educational Model. It costs but is worth it.
Schools of Trust
Free documentary which comes in three parts.
Dr Alan Thomas MSc PhD FBPsS explains informal learning
Five minute explanation of real world learning by education expert.
Books:
- Free To Learn by Peter Gray
- Changing Our Minds by Naomi Fisher
- When Kids Rule The School by Jim Rietmulder
- The Pursuit of Happiness: The Lives of Sudbury Valley Alumni by Greenberg, D., Sadofsky, M., and Lempke, J.
- Co-Create School With The Children: A New Morning by Bas Rosenbrand
People and Organisations:
People:
- A.S. Neill - founder of Summerhill School, the champion of this model
- Yaacov Hecht – the face of democratic education in Israel
- Derry Hannam – Ex Ofsted inspector (some good interviews on youtube)
- Daniel Greenberg, Mimsy Sadofsky and Hanna Greenberg – founders of Sudbury Valley School
Organisations & Websites:
- https://eudec.org/ - European Democratic Education Community
- https://www.idenetwork.org/index.php - A useful directory of existing projects
- https://www.wonderingschool.org/ - A couple making great films
- https://www.educationrevolution.org/store/about/ - An interesting alternative education organisation
- https://phoenixeducation.co.uk/ - doing some great work in mainstream schools
the deschooling process
Leaving school behind
We work with a number of families who have come out of mainstream education feeling pushed out by school trauma rather than pulled out by the opportunities of home education. Many of these families are on a journey of recovery.
That journey usually begins before the point of deregistration: often as parents and students reach the point of desperation, they begin to reach out and research what other options are available to them.
This is in most cases a deeply stressful, lonely and confusing time. This page aims to contain some useful resources, whether you intend to come and see us at Our Free Minds or not.
The process of overcoming school-based trauma and letting go of the pressures and conditioning of the school system (which are very often internalised in us parents as well!) is usually referred to as deschooling.
Building awareness of this process in oneself as a parent can be very helpful - and we also find it helpful to be open about this process with young people as well. We hope that some of these resources will help you open those conversations and give you and your family a few signposts on this new adventure.
Deschooling resources
Francesca Liberatore is an unschooling mother, and believer that joyful learning for all ages, children’s rights and respectful parenting are radically political acts. She shares her deschooling and unschooling journeys @bigmothering and has written this insightful article.
Educational Freedrom is an organisation that provides free home education information and support in the UK. Here is an article from them about deschooling.
Lucy Aitken Read is a UK born, NZ based unschooling mum who is active on social media platforms and also runs a number of courses and webinars - including one called Disco which aims to help parents to deschool. Here she is interviewed by Twinkl about unschooling and recovering from school wounds. And here she talks to Rob Greenfield about her choice to unschool her children.
Ben Rehrman is a teenage unschooler who has many useful videos on YouTube about life as an unschooled teenager: Unschooling Explained (by an Unschooler)
Some useful follows on Social Media
Lucy Aitken Read: https://www.facebook.com/LulasticAndTheHippyshake/
Dr Naomi Fisher: https://www.facebook.com/drnaomifisher/
Eliza Fricker: https://missingthemark.blog/
Reporting to the Local Authority
When you deregister your child, you will be contacted by the LA, because they are legally bound to ensure that children are safe and are being offered an education that is appropriate to their needs and abilities. Whilst you are not legally obliged to give them information about how you are educating your child, they do have the power to apply for a court order to return the child to school, if they are unable to demonstrate that the child is safe and receiving an education. Therefore we believe that it is in our families’ best interest to work with the LA. This currently means either submitting an annual report, or having a face to face meeting with the Education Welfare Officer. It is a good idea to seek advice from people who have experience in your own specific region, as we have found that the interactions vary between individuals within the LA.