Yes You Can. ...It’s easy.

There is a misconception that, by law, all children must attend school in the United States. This is simply not true. There is no such law, nor is there anything about school mentioned in the American constitution. Home schooling is legal in all 50 states. And unlike, say, the police or fire department there is no special training that is legally required to teach children, be they yours or someone else’s. There are, understandably, a few requirements and some paperwork but, basically, anyone can start their own school in the U.S. as well as many other countries.

 

The best way to begin is to begin. Call up a like-minded person you know or even go online (ie. Facebook and Twitter) and get in touch with other fans of democratic education. Tell them you’re thinking about starting a democratic school (or whatever you choose to call it) in your neighborhood. Once a conversation starts, it’s amazing how quickly things can happen.

 

Following this most important step of just starting, a good next step would be to contact The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO). Click on the picture below for their Start A School Program. Enrollment is just $35 (USD) and the resources they offer are indispensable, including personal mentoring to anyone who is interested in starting an alternative school. AERO has no curriculum or rules for how to run a school. That’s just the point. You and the individuals in your school determine how learning happens.

 

AERO, alone, has helped get over 30 democratic schools started around the country and there are many more growing every day in the U.S. and around the world. You are not alone. If you know that the way things are cannot continue one day longer, whether for your kids or for our collective future, then be the one who makes the change. Click on the picture below and help create a new world for new generations.