Conventional schools still train students for a world that no longer exists. Employers today prize creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking — yet school continues to reward obedience and compliance. Democratic education bridges that gap by preparing young people to live meaningful lives now while developing the skills our changing world truly needs: adaptability, empathy, self-direction, and shared responsibility.

Leaving school can bring unexpected grief. Parents and kids often find themselves mourning more than an institution — they’re letting go of schoolishness, the belief that grades define worth and that belonging comes from doing things “the right way.” This reflection explores the quiet ache of stepping outside the tribe of school, and how families move through loss toward new kinds of connection and growth.

We trust toddlers and adults to learn through curiosity and self-direction — so why not school-age kids? This post explores the school-age paradox, showing how free play, autonomy, and self-directed learning for kids prepare them not just for college and work, but for life itself. Discover why rigid curriculum is a poor predictor of the future — and why trusting children’s natural drive to learn matters more than ever.