What Does it Mean to Be Educated?

By Ken Danford. Blake Boles has been writing and speaking about self-directed learning for over a decade, most recently for the Alliance for Self-Directed Education.  In his article What Does it Mean to Be Educated?,  he offers a somewhat historical perspective of where we are in the long-term arc of public education in the United States.  As Blake points out, schools …

Opting Out in a Bigger Way

Teens headed out for a walk in the woods

Schools are gearing up for another round of standardized tests. Families are rightly opting out of these tests. Tests measure a very narrow range of skills and abilities—they can’t possibly measure what we value most in young people: creativity, inspiration, kindness, curiosity, collaboration.