| AERO Conference Registration is Officially Open! |
Finally we have signed the contract with Long Island University/Post and can officially announce that: This year's 25 Anniversary AERO conference will be at LIU/Post, near New York City, from June 26-29th. Last year we had attendees from 25 states and 10 countries. This year we expect more since the date is easier for more people.
The first announced keynote speaker is Zoe Neill Readhead, daughter of Summerhill founder A.S. Neill and current Head of the school. Several other announcements will soon follow. We are already taking workshop proposals and the first approved workshops are now on the website. The number will be limited so submit them soon! Presenters can register at the special rate for presenters and students. Tesla has agreed to do the limo service for the first day of the conference. If you've never ridden in a Tesla you're in for a treat!
The Super Early Bird registration rate has started. It is only $225 for the full four-day conference. Even when it is over the rate will only ultimately rise to $350. A deposit of $50 for an individual or $100 for a group will hold your place at this rate.
Unlike last year people do not have to purchase a meal plan in advance. Participants will be able to buy meals at the Hillwood Cafeteria, and the total meal price is likely to average much less than last year. Of course you can go out or order delivery whenever you want. I ate there tonight and there was a good selection, including sushi, salad, pizza, soups, grilled food, a variety of beverages, etc. Furthermore the new food services director will make vegan and gluten free foods available for those who request them, and is happy to talk with individuals about accommodating any special needs.
People can now reserve their dorm rooms here. Learn more about all of our housing options here. We look forward to seeing all our friends from last year and lots of new or returning people from the AERO network at our 25th anniversary conference!
Call for Workshops
Also, you can now submit a proposal and download the form, click here. There is no official theme this year as we are simply celebrating AERO's 25th anniversary!
Last year, we limited the number of scheduled presentations so we could have at least one or two spontaneous workshops per session, and intend to do that again this year. So send it your proposals ASAP. People with accepted proposals can register at the special presenter rate. |
Community & Education Interview Series:
Rick Posner |
 Rick Posner, PhD, worked as an advisor, teacher and administrator in the public schools for more than thirty years. He did his doctoral work on self-directed learning and personal motivation in open community settings. He is also the author of Lives of Passion, School of Hope (Sentient Publications, Boulder, CO), about the alumni of the Jefferson County Open School, one of the longest lasting public K-12 alternatives in the world. The book was recently published in China at Eastern China Normal University Press. Rick did a book tour in Shanghai in September and found a wonderful reception from Chinese parents, students and educators.
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| School ditches rules and loses bullies |
TVNZ, ONE News
Ripping up the playground rulebook is having incredible effects on children at an Auckland school.
Chaos may reign at Swanson Primary School with children climbing trees, riding skateboards and playing bullrush during playtime, but surprisingly the students don't cause bedlam, the principal says.
The school is actually seeing a drop in bullying, serious injuries and vandalism, while concentration levels in class are increasing.
Principal Bruce McLachlan rid the school of playtime rules as part of a successful university experiment.
"We want kids to be safe and to look after them, but we end up wrapping them in cotton wool when in fact they should be able to fall over."
Letting children test themselves on a scooter during playtime could make them more aware of the dangers when getting behind the wheel of a car in high school, he said.
"When you look at our playground it looks chaotic. From an adult's perspective, it looks like kids might get hurt, but they don't."
Read more here.
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| Five Ways to Transcend the School Mindset |
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Laura Grace Weldon
 School-like instruction has been around less than a fraction of one percent of the time we humans have been on earth. Yet humanity has thrived. That's because we're all born to be free range learners. We are born motivated to explore, play, emulate role models, challenge ourselves, make mistakes and try again-continually gaining mastery. That's how everyone learns to walk and talk. That's how young people have become capable adults throughout history. And that's how we have advanced the arts, sciences, and technology. In the long view, school is the experiment.
But it's hard to see beyond the school mindset because most of us went to school in our formative years. So when we think of education, we tend to view school as the standard even if we simultaneously realize that many parts of that model (found also in daycare, preschool, kids' clubs, and enrichment programs) aren't necessarily beneficial. Narrowing the innate way we learn can interfere with the full development of our gifts.
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Matt Hern: Possibility in the Face of Probability (Video)
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You can now watch Matt Hern's 2005 AERO conference keynote, "Possibility in the Face of Probability."
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Do you have a news or resource item you think Education Revolution newsletter readers would find useful? Send it to [email protected].
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Thank you for your ongoing support. With your help, we will make learner-centered alternatives available to everyone!
Sincerely,
Jerry Mintz
Executive Director
Alternative Education Resource Organization
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