A talk with Dr. Peter Gray: What Is Self-Directed Education, and How Do We Know It Works?

What Is Self-Directed Education, and How Do We Know It Works?

We are living in an era of educational crisis right now.  Our misguided view that children and adolescents develop best when they are continuously guided and evaluated by adults has led to a dramatic decline in young people’s freedom to play, explore, and figure things out for themselves; and that, in turn, has led to record levels of anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness. What would happen if we allowed young people to take charge of their own education, such that we adults served as helpers, not directors?  In this talk, Dr. Gray will address that question by describing research conducted in settings where children and adolescents are, in fact, in charge of their own education.

Dr. Peter Gray, Research Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College, and author of "Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life," will present this talk as the keynote speech of the 2026 Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference. This is a can't-miss evening for anyone interested in learning more about Self-directed education, a current family of Sudbury or Democratic Schools, or an educator of any kind. 

Register and make your plans to join us now!