School Sucks

The Essential School Sucks, #24 of 50 Theme Three: What It Means To Be Educated We move from self-directed learning to its outcome: critical thinking. Today I'll discuss one of the MOST IMPORTANT aspects of it: our persistent uncritical thoughts and feelings. (November, 2016) What is wrong with John Oliver? What's wrong with Donald Trump? What's wrong the anti-Trump anti-reality protestors? What was wrong with me the other day when I suddenly felt impelled to hatch a conspiracy theory about Trump's election being part of a "larger plan" with little evidence? What's wrong with an alarming number of the interactions in School Sucks Facebook group lately? Political thinking is often quick thinking. Thinking quickly is an evolution-driven feature that was once necessary for our survival. But in a vastly more complex world than the one our species grew up in, this mode of thought is often dangerous and destructive. Look around. Sometimes some people, even libertarians, use mental shortcuts to arrive at faulty conc

The Essential School Sucks, #23 of 50 Theme Three: What It Means To Be Educated Kerry McDonald is a home-educating mother of four, who holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University, where she studied education administration, planning, and social policy. She is a writer for Natural Mother Magazine, the Foundation for Economic Education, Forbes, and Intellectual Takeout. She is a founding member of AlternativesToSchool.com, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. Her blog podcast is LiberatED. She joins me today to discuss - her professional/academic education background - how she learned about and embraced self-directed learning - her current online projects - how education works in her home (and beyond), for each of her 4 children - promoting self-directed education - Benefits of Self-Directed Learning - her article "Cultivating An Unenclosed Childhood" The Ideas Into Action Summit (https://sspuniversity.com/ideasintoaction/) The downloadable version of The Ideas Into Ac

The Essential School Sucks, #22 of 50 Theme Three: What It Means To Be Educated Scott Hambrick returns for a discussion on "how people learn and how we help them do that," as he aspires to be a more effective home-educator, Starting Strength coach, and leader at Online Great Books (https://onlinegreatbooks.com/ogb-memberships/?cookieUUID=b0752603-b84f-4b68-8330-3bf3fc074d2c). We begin our discussion with an exploration of the common learning theories practiced in public school and higher education, along with a cost/benefit analysis of each: behaviorism, cognitivism, and (social) constructivism. We also touch on connectivism and mindset theory. In future conversation(s) we'll cover additional behaviors and practices that can greatly enhance both the learning and thing processes, including The 20-Hour Rule, the Six Thinking Hats, the Trivium Method, attributes of self-directed learning and strategies for critical thinking in everyday life. The Ideas Into Action Summit (https://sspuniversity.com/ideasintoacti

The Essential School Sucks, #21 of 50 Theme Three: What It Means To Be Educated Today's show is intended as a resource for listeners looking to share the ideas of alternative education and self directed learning with their friends and family, or with anyone wants to learn more about these subjects. Blake Boles builds exciting alternatives to traditional school for self-directed young people. He runs the company Unschool Adventures and is the author of The Art of Self-Directed Learning, Better Than College, and College Without High School. Blake and I discuss the path to more self directed learning How to define the current school problem Why Schooling is not the same as education John Taylor Gatto's definition of real education The attributes of an educated person Self-Determination Theory and self directed learning Promising developments in educational alternatives How more people can gain access to alternative education How parents improve their children's educational experience even if they can't take them

The Essential School Sucks, #20 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives In the previous episode you heard my first podcast with Zak from 2016. Today we'll fast-forward five years for updates on life and career advice in times of increasing uncertainty and instability. Favorite School Sucks neighbor Zak Slayback returns to offer some key 2021 updates to his past advice for young people at the beginning of their careers. Our previous conversation on this topic, called How High School Students Can Get Ahead In Their Careers [PODCAST #583], covered: Why young people need to start personal websites while in high school, and how this website can work as a portfolio, showcase of personality, a canvas and as insurance How to contact an existing expert in the area you want to go into, getting a better idea of how to get started Methods of signaling and building a portfolio growing your network of people who are a few steps ahead of you We'll make some adjustment to previou

The Essential School Sucks, #19 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Zak Slayback is an entrepreneur who writes, speaks and takes action on issues of education, innovation, and philosophy. He is an Ivy League dropout and a founding team member of Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuckspodcast/) - an organization that creates apprenticeships for college-age people that lead directly to full-time jobs. Learn more about Zak at ZakSlayback.com. Discussion: * the power and opportunity of apprenticeships * What's the difference between school and education? * career guidance (or lack thereof) in high school * The truth about college admissions * The Ivy League liability * deschooling The Ideas In Action Summit (https://sspuniversity.com/ideasintoaction/) The downloadable version of The Ideas Into Action Summit is now available. Use the coupon code independence to can get it for 30% off now until July 5th Learn more here (https://sspuniversity.com/ideasintoacti

The Essential School Sucks, #18 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Today, an Essential School Sucks compilation of two conversations with natural learning legends: Sandra Dodd and Pam Laricchia. PART ONE: Sandra Dodd is a world-renown unschooling and natural learning advocate, and the mother of three adult unschooled children. Her website SandraDodd.com is one of the most comprehensive unschooling resources on the internet. She joins me for a fast-paced but fairly comprehensive discussion on unschooling and choice and her unschooling experiences, influences and philosophy. Unschoolers and Reading Sandra share the stories of her three children learning to read, and how there might not always be clear incremental steps. A Mindset For Unschooling "read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch" - patience what are we watching for? addressing problems a discomforts appreciation of choice and projecting optimism power-with, instead of power-over relationships, p

The Essential School Sucks, #17 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Pat Farenga is a leading unschooling advocate, and the father of three adult unschooled children. He worked closely with unschooling pioneer John Holt on the Growing Without Schooling Magazine, and in the mid-1980s he took over as publisher of GWS and the president of Holt Associates. Today Pat runs the website JohnHoltGWS.com, which archives all the issues of the magazine, plus a variety of unschooling books and resources. He joins me to discuss the history of unschooling (the idea and the movement), his experiences as an unschooling parent, his relationship with John Holt and the language we use to convey our ideas. Pat's Personal History of Unschooling He and his wife raised three girls, and while embracing the unschooling philosophy, they left the door into and out school open for them. The embrace was a very gradual process, from idealism about teaching to John Holt's impact on his ideas

The Essential School Sucks, #16 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives From (#SchoolSucksAcrossAmerica - DAY SIX - OCT 20 - Harrisburg, PA) Tony Myers and I ask and answer questions with Circle School students and staff. From the The Circle School website: A pioneer in integral education, The Circle School’s program balances freedom and responsibility in a self-directed, democratic community. Students are free to choose their own activities, while sharing with staff responsibility for the day-to-day management of all aspects of the school. Several participants will address these two questions: - What is the most exciting or satisfying thing you've taught yourself this year? - What is the biggest challenge for you? Related Show: [PODCAST] #526: Sparks Academy (Founder Interview and Student Discussion) (https://schoolsucksproject.com/podcast-526-sparks-academy-founder-interview-student-discussion/) The Ideas In Action Summit (https://sspuniversity.com/ideasintoacti

The Essential School Sucks, #15 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Diane Murphy taught in public schools for 30 years before she retired early to build BigFish, an innovative self-directed learning community in Dover, NH. I had the pleasure of speaking with Diane at the FreeCoast Festival and of hearing her presentation on BigFish (https://www.bigfishnh.org/). We sat down to discuss her past experience, current efforts and passion for self-directed learning and integrating teens into the real world. Discussion: - Diane's path out of public school - properties of natural learning - physical costs of school - A new model for a self-directed learning center - Cooperation and competition can work together - Community networking for real-world education and training - How teens move from a school to a self-directed learning community - Outcomes for self-directed learners - Building online portfolios - How public school teachers are kept in line A Follow-Up Show Wi

The Essential School Sucks, #14 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives (but also for everyone else) Matt Beaudreau returns to map out a hero's journey for teens. We'll also discuss how students are guided through this process at Acton Academy, and how homeschooling and unschooling parents can help nurture this process in their own children. Plus much more on * goals, systems, habits and routines * self-knowledge and challenge * resisting cultural/political/peer "brainwashing" Matt is an in-demand and provocative education speaker and consultant, and a personal development coach to people all around the world. He is also the founder of the Acton Academy in Placer, CA; Acton is a program of self-directed learning with over 100 locations around the world. About Acton Academy Placer Acton Academy Placer is an Educational Resource Center for students grades K-12 in Northern California. The Center provides a collaborative environment for students to develop an entrepre

The Essential School Sucks, #13 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Kerry McDonald returns to discuss the growing Micro-School movement. What is a Micro-School and why should we be talking about them? (and why am I excited about a school?) We'll also cover blended learning, the question of screen time for children, and a thriving micro-school network in Arizona Kerry recently profiled in Forbes Magazine. That article is called How Micro-School Networks Expand Learning Options (https://fee.org/articles/how-micro-school-networks-expand-learning-options/) Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE and author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom. She is also an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute and a regular Forbes contributor. Kerry has a B.A. in economics from Bowdoin College and an M.Ed. in education policy from Harvard University. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and four ch

The Essential School Sucks, #12 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Connor Boyack is a home-educating parent and the founder of the Libertas Institute. He joins me to discuss his book Passion-Driven Education, which is definitely a nice companion piece for the School Sucks Podcast. Discussed: * School is a tool for social transformation; education is a tool for self-transformation * Addressing Concerns: Structure, "assessment," and protection in the homeschool environment * Is the process of critical inquiry more important than the actual information gained? * Minimally Invasive Education * "hackschooling" * A Star Wars story about child motivation The Books: Passion-Driven Education (https://amzn.to/3mvTl1p) The Tuttle Twins Set by Connor Boyack: The Law, The Golden Rule, Miraculous Pencil, Education Vacation (https://amzn.to/3ztTERP) Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit

The Essential School Sucks, #11 of 50 Theme Two: Leaving Institutional Schooling and Finding Educational Alternatives Lenore Skenazy (http://www.freerangekids.com/) was one of the first people to sound the alarm on the dangers of safety. Now, two decades into the "century of the safe" - where safety is the trump card in almost every policy argument - we must recognize that letting go of overprotectiveness is an important step towards treating young people with more dignity. 2013: Lenore joins me to discuss the Free Range Kids movement, and strategies for reaching out to helicopter parents. We also explore the trends that have led to the panic, paranoia and over-protective nature of so many parents today. Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuckspodcast/) Please Support School Sucks School Sucks was one of the longest running liberty-minded podcasts on the web, and the only one co

The Essential School Sucks, #10 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School This show concludes our first section of shows on the problem of institutional schooling. We're told the primary purpose of K-12 is get into a good college. So in this installment we'll use a single news story about corruption to create a comprehensive argument against the content, culture, and cost of higher indoctrination.(for most people) Scott Hambrick and I discuss the so-called biggest scandal in the history of higher education! But what will the public ultimately learn from the Operation Varsity Blues revelations? And what will change? Scott is a home educating parent, entrepreneur, strength coach and the creator (Reader In Chief) of OnlineGreatBooks.com (https://onlinegreatbooks.com/ogb-memberships/?cookieUUID=b0752603-b84f-4b68-8330-3bf3fc074d2c). Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuc

The Essential School Sucks, #9 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School This final show - thoroughly remastered - about the problems of K-12 public schooling, is primarily focused on the recent dark history, Outcome-Based Education, how it was applied to the children of the 90s, and how it has been "perfected" since then. Original Notes: Today's show is a followup to the previous conversation with Dave Smith - a deeper level of exploration of the history of school, covering a longer period of time, and showing the progression of control over the public mind. (Edited Audio from Brett on Free Man Beyond the Wall) Pete's question: what you believe is the biggest conspiracy behind turning the schools into the indoctrination centers they are today? It's hard to pick just one. A STORY OF INCREASING LEVERAGE OF SCIENTIFIC MANAGERS (AND BOILED FROGS) 1840s-1930s - Mandatory public education in America began as part of a quest for a perfect society with the Puritans in Massachusetts who were seeking a rel

The Essential School Sucks, #8 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School March 27, 2018 - This past weekend hundreds of thousands of ill-informed teenagers participated in a nationwide accidental fundraiser for the NRA called #MarchForOurLives. Thaddeus Russell returns to examine the bigger picture. We'll discuss the fetish-ization of children by both the left and the right. Other themes include politics as a performance on a stage, dangers of absolutist thinking, Manichaeism (the age-old religious idea of fighting the battle against the darkness on the side of the light, and the comfort and illusion of moral superiority that idea brings), why this phenomenon does NOT require "crisis actors," and the harnessing of teenage angst towards political ends. Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuckspodcast/) Please Support School Sucks School Sucks was one of the longest run

The Essential School Sucks, #7 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School How will the draconian "safety" measures from the past pandemic (or maybe a future pandemic) affect school children? These measures are new vectors for punishment and surveillance, and they will certainly remain in place beyond any health crisis. Jay, The Honest Teacher returns almost exactly one year after our last conversation. I asked him to offer some up close and personal accounts (from students and from his observations) about how institutional schooling has become even more of a dystopian nightmare. Unfortunately now more than ever, school continues to make good on its promise to mold children into "good" citizens. But is there a silver lining? Jay says yes. The Honest Teacher: On Minds (https://www.minds.com/thehonestteacher/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thehonestteachers/) On Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thehonestteacher/) Our Previous Conversations: The Honest Teacher Speaks (Part 2 of 2) [POD

The Essential School Sucks, #6 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School The story of mass public schooling: a shocking intrusion takes place, and then it becomes normalized, and then it becomes invisible, until another shocking intrusion takes place. And so on... Dave Smith and I discuss a brief history of this intrusion into family and community life, and then we assess the condition of public school and college, as they were, heading into the pandemic (where they definitely didn't get any better). Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuckspodcast/) Please Support School Sucks School Sucks was one of the longest running liberty-minded podcasts on the web, and the only one completely devoted to the issue of education (versus public school and college). Your support keeps the show alive, which keeps us at the top of the options for education podcasts and leads to new p

The Essential School Sucks, #5 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School Dr. Peter Gray was a research professor of psychology at Boston College, and author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (https://amzn.to/3sJOtcu). Peter serves on the Organizing team for the Alliance of Self-Directed-Education. He also runs a blog on Psychology Today called Freedom to Learn, where he regularly explains and promotes self-directed education from a variety of angles. Today Peter and I discuss creativity and critical thinking - two skills we agree are left underdeveloped (or even damaged) by public school and college. On critical thinking, Peter has referenced studies and surveys that reveal about 50% of employers are dissatisfied with entry-level, college graduate employees (PayScale Inc.) and that college does little to improve higher level thinking (Academically Adrift: Limited Learning On College Campuses - 201