Two Weeks to Register for Possibly the Last Online School Starter Course; Listen to New Podcast at the Bottom of the Article

It's that time of year again: the AERO School Starters Course begins in just two weeks! We do a lot of things here at AERO but the School Starters course is easily one of the most valuable things we have to offer. AERO's mission is to make learner centered education available to children everywhere, and what more effective way is there to do that than by directly helping people to start learner centered schools from the ground up?

 

These schools change the lives of children everywhere, from Maine to California, Malaysia to England, and Australia to South Africa, people who have taken the School Starters Course have started revolutionary schools that empower students to take charge of their own education.

 

If you have ever felt called to start a school, whether it's a homeschool co-op for your child in a small community in rural America or a full blown democratic school in a big city like New York, this course will teach you all the skills you will need to have to start your own school.

 

Since announcing the course, we've received exciting inquiries and got to know new friends who are getting on board the Education Revolution. While continuing the preparation and communications about the course, we've come to realize that this is the 12th year since School Starters 101 started! Many things have changed in the past 12 years. Social media, smartphones, MOOCs......I bet you can name a lot. 

 

From the feedback we got at this year's conference, discussions on the listserve, and new people working for AERO, we are considering developing something new. It might be more personal consultation or on-site training, or it may be something else. We would love to hear your input. In the meanwhile, this year's School Starters course may be the last one, or at least in the way it is today and at this price. At the moment, the cost of the course currently would only equal 1/10th to 1/20th of the cost of a single tuition in a future independent alternative.  If you are ready to take the course in its current form, we encourage you to join us now. But if you're interested in starting an education alternative and have any other ideas about the kind of help you need, please let us know!

 

All of your input is invaluable to furthering the Education Revolution. Please continue to share your thoughts, feelings, and anything related to us, and get the momentum going.

 

Meanwhile the people enrolling in this year's course will get the full attention of course leaders Chris Mercogliano and Jerry Mintz, as well as guest resource people and responses from peers in the course. Students in the course over the years have created at least 100 new alternatives.

 

So come join us as we change the world one child at a time!

Register now here

What former participants have said

What an amazing, diverse group of people! I told my husband last night that I feel that I've found my tribe, in a way. It's really the first time in my life that I've been surrounded by people who are thinking about all of the things that I am, who are concerned about the same things that I am, who are passionate about the same things that I am, who are dedicated to putting their thoughts into action like I am. It is truly wonderful! -Mary

 

I just finished reading all of the posts in the introductions thread, and I have to say I'm at awe with everyone here and grateful to be here. Even just reading your fascinating stories and following the links or looking up concepts has already given me incredible new ideas and resources, and we're just starting! Thanks everyone, and thanks Jerry and Chris-TG

 

This class has helped me spell out my ideas and put them out there in a safe place that is supportive and helps me see what potential they have. This class has also inspired me to discuss my vision more with others (in person) and let people know not only what I feel is necessary in education, but WHY I feel it is so necessary. I have developed more confidence in articulating my vision and by doing so, have gotten lots of valuable feedback and support in surprising areas. It is quite an exciting time for me seeing all of the ideas I have been playing around with in my head for so long finally come out and take shape into something that seems a little more realistically feasible each day! -Katie

 

I do feel the course has assisted in getting closer to my goal of opening my school. I have learned a great deal from the topics and the questions/comments posted by the collective group. I have a new sense of confidence and peace about this process. I do not see it as such a big thing now. I am already open for school everyday for my children and now I am just including some others with a little different twist. -Marianne

 

This course has been spectacular- it really has opened many doors for me and made a *major* step in the right direction for me opening my school- both in what it has taught as well as in the people I have met. -Alex

 

This course has been immensely helpful. Among other things, I've discovered that there is a considerable body of literature on the subject of alternative education, but the literature is NOT readily available. You won't encounter it as required reading in teacher preparation courses. You won't find it in most public libraries. - Robert

The school starter course is limited to 25 students or groups and will close when we reach that number. AERO has helped start over 100 alternatives. Click on the course to see a map of them. Again this year you can get graduate credit from Antioch University  for the course. You can also pay for it in monthly installments. Just scroll down.   We start by opening up one section at a time and guide you through the interactive process of starting a new alternative, with a peer group of others doing the same.  NEW SCHOOL STARTERS PODCAST FEATURING SPECIAL DISCOUNT! We have just recorded a 12 minute bonus podcast with information about the course.  You can listen to the podcast here , or you can listen to it in your favorite podcast app. Just search for "Education Revolution". Register for the course by clicking the image below. Make sure you use the coupon code if you listen to the podcast.   Reply to this e news if you have specific questions.

Brewster private school, Longview School, was honored in Paris, France where its director, Mark Jacobs, was invited to give a keynote presentation. Mark Jacobs, Longview's co-founder and current director, travelled to the annual conference of the European Democratic Education Community (EUDEC) to speak about combining a structured curriculum with student empowerment in a democratic school. The conference brought together more than 400 participants from all over Europe and around the world. The group was comprised of educators starting schools or hoping to do so in the near future, along with both veteran teachers and those from recently founded schools.

In addition to Jacobs, the conference organizers brought in long-time educators such as Henri Redhead, a grandson of the renowned A.S. Neil who founded the Summerhill School in Leiston, England almost 100 years ago. Redhead addressed the group on Monday night, describing the way Summerhill gives students freedom to direct their own education. Although no classes are required in the school, about 90% of the upper students choose to take enough classes to be prepared for the rigorous General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) tests so they are able to move on to universities in England or abroad.

Read the rest here.

By  Sarah Bradley

In the time that my husband and I have been home-schooling our 6-year-old son, not once has anyone asked us about our curriculum.

Not family members, friends, our pediatrician or parents at the playground. Not even strangers in the grocery store, who wonder out loud why my son is there at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday when he "should be in school."

No one wants to know when we plan to educate him on addition and subtraction, parts of speech, the U.S. presidents or foreign language. No one asks about the time, effort and energy we expend each year dreaming up unit studies and supplemental activities. No one wonders about how many hours per day we spend on actual, sit-down instruction vs. more interactive learning.

Read the rest here.