Free to Learn
by Gray, Peter · first published 2013
86% recommend14% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Makes a case for unschooling and democratic schooling, with Sudbury Valley as the main example, drawing on historical and social perspective. Suits parents and teachers weighing alternatives to compulsory schooling.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"A lightning bolt of a book" makes the case for why self-directed learning — "unschooling" — is the best way to get kids to learn (Lenore Skenazy) In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today’s constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, he demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally res
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…unschooling/self directed education [0]? 2. Were you home schooled/unschooled/practiced self directed education ? What’s your story? I am considering this approach for my children. Just finished reading free to learn [1] and Peter gray makes a compelling case for this approach. Also the documentary “schooling the world” covers some of the chilling effects of compulsory schooling. [2] it has made me seriously question…
on “Ask HN: Were you unschooled, or are you unschooling your children?” ↗…unschooling/self directed education [0] for your children? 2. Were you home schooled/unschooled/practiced self directed education ? What’s your story? I am Considering this approach. Just finished reading free to learn [1] and Peter gray makes a compelling case for this approach. Also the documentary “schooling the world” covers some of the chilling effects of compulsory schooling. [2] it has made me seriously question…
on “Anxiety and burnout: why kids are consumed with worry” ↗I learned about the Sudbury school style of education from a book called "Free to Learn" by Peter Gray. A Wikipedia article can't do justice to such a radically different approach to education. Keep in mind that our current factory style of education is a relatively recent development in…
on “Sudbury School” ↗Ok, time to link a book : Free to learn by Peter Gray https://www.amazon.com/Free-Learn-Unleashing-Instinct-Self-R... Or how and why parents and adults should really stop trying to control their children.
on “Ask HN: Any good collaboratively built documentation on good parenting?” ↗There is a really good book that came out last year called Free to Learn [1]. The Sudbury Valley School model comes up frequently in the book. If it's something you're interested in, definitely check it out. [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Free-Learn-Unleashing-Instinct-Self-Re...
on “The anarchic experimental schools of the 1970s” ↗We have previously discussed something similar [here](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6709631). The book, Free to Learn, by Peter Gray discusses the promise of democratic schools with a historical and social perspective. He even calls the Sudbury Valley schools "America's best kept secret". I attended the open house…
on “The school that hates rules” ↗"School is a Prison", 45 min interview with Prof Peter Gray, Boston College, author of "Free to Learn" about democratic free schools and non-compulsory education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_DJAZ-ByV0
on “The Invented History of 'The Factory Model of Education'” ↗…follow-up surveys, graduates are happy, well-adjusted, and successful. Here is a 9 min intro video about the original Sudbury Valley School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awOAmTaZ4XI And here is a book "Free to Learn": http://www.amazon.com/Free-Learn-Unleashing-Instinct-Self-Re...
on “Training for Discontent” ↗I would check out the book "Free to Learn" by Peter Gray - he goes into why "unschooling" or democratic schooling can be effective. It really changed my outlook on education. I had previously read "A Mathemetician's Lament"[0], an essay by Paul…
on “Who Invented Homework?” ↗…education, which constrains us. I've compiled many videos and links on it, as well as some of my thoughts, in this blog entry: http://joshuaspodek.com/mind-blowing-educational-practices. Peter Gray's book Free to Learn is the most comprehensive resource http://www.freetolearnbook.com.
on “Outdoor Preschools” ↗You may like Peter Gray’s article on the subject: [1] If you are more curious, I would also suggest his book titled “Free to Learn” [1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/200909...
on “School or Prison” ↗Free to learn, a book by Peter Gray about unschooling, really opened my eyes and finally help with decision about homeschooling. It shood be basic literature for all institutional teachers.
on “School is Not Enough: Learning is a consequence of doing (2021)” ↗…you're interested in some content that really helped me understand why I hated school so completely, I recommend "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling" by John Taylor Gatto, and "Free to Learn" by Peter Gray. Peter Gray also has a very nice blog called "Play Makes Us Human" at https://petergray.substack.com/ As a parent of a toddler, deciding on schooling options is one of the most serious…
on “Why is homeschooling becoming fashionable?” ↗A book "Free to learn" by Peter Gray help us wit decision of homeschoolong our kids. Our education system is broken.
on “Why is homeschooling becoming fashionable?” ↗…to college often advance very quickly in whatever work they end up doing as person skills are the key to being successful. The results speak for themselves. You can read about it in Peter Gray's book Free to Learn and other works by him. Also keep in mind that teaching, which is what conventional school focuses on, is not the same as learning.
on “Building a real-time AI tutor for 5-year-olds” ↗