Last week, I explored the inherent comfort found in embracing culturally approved educational choices. The concept of formal schooling has been woven into the American fabric since the colonial period, beginning with the Puritan schools in the early 1600s and the first publicly funded school in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1644. What's striking is how little the fundamental curriculum and methodology has evolved since the 1800s—a testament to the deep institutional stagnation that shapes our educational landscape.

While I'm painting with broad strokes here, my central point remains: challenging educational norms means confronting the deeply ingrained role and values that schools occupy in our collective history and identity. It means questioning not just how we teach, but what we consider essential knowledge within the curriculum. 

Our ultimate goal is to unravel the powerful grip of compulsory education and illuminate the transformative possibilities that emerge through non-coercive, self-directed learning. This isn't about rejecting education itself—it's about reimagining what authentic learning looks like when freed from institutional and cultural constraints.

Those of us practicing self-directed education philosophy need to step boldly into the spotlight. Whether we're creating vibrant learning communities, like Deep Root Center, or embracing the freedom of unschooling at home, our stories matter. By sharing the journeys of our student members, with complete transparency, we can spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and help individual families envision how this approach might work for their unique circumstances—besides being a last resort for those youth who have tried hard to make school work with dismal and damaging results. 

At Deep Root Center, our fundamental responsibility extends beyond educational philosophy—it's about doing meaningful work with overarching kindness and empathy for every family we encounter. We support and encourage our student members to follow their genuine interests and curiosity while remaining open to new concepts and staying true to themselves. 

This approach provides children with something increasingly rare in our standardized world: the space and time to discover who they are and what they're capable of becoming when learning springs from intrinsic motivation rather than external pressure. When we trust young people to direct their own education, we witness the emergence of confident, creative, and critically thinking individuals who are not afraid of the messiness and mistakes required while navigating an uncertain future with adaptability and authenticity. 

The path forward requires courage from families willing to question conventional wisdom and put faith in children's natural capacity for learning. As we continue to demonstrate the power of self-directed education, we're not just changing individual lives—we're contributing to a broader cultural shift toward approaches to human development and education that mirror society's demands for young people who are confidently capable of open-minded problem-solving and, in the process, cultivating answers to the multitude of issues facing humanity. 

Over the past few weeks, several parents have confided that their children, whether Deep Root Center student members or homeschool consultees, will be returning to a formal school setting this September. At first, these decisions left me scratching my head, especially since many of these young people left school behind because it failed them in a variety of ways. Their needs and interests were overlooked, and some felt adrift—bored, anxious, unsupported, or even bullied. As I read through their messages, a deeper pattern began to emerge, hinting at the reasons behind this return to traditional classrooms. 

As I reflected on all this earlier in the week, I realized that these families, like free-flowing water, may be seeking the path of least resistance. I totally understand this impulse. There's an undeniable appeal to following the cultural norm of school attendance, where the day is structured for you, major decisions are made with little direct input, the rules are established and clear, and conforming within prescribed boundaries is rewarded. 

Despite my initial confusion, I genuinely empathize with these choices. In some cases, the inherent freedom and looseness of the Deep Root Center and self-directed learning in a homeschool setting can feel uncomfortable and unmooring and may not be for everyone. Additionally, many of these children, for various reasons, have felt disconnected throughout their lives, and perhaps they simply want to experience what their peers take for granted—in a formal educational setting. I can also imagine parents longing for the practical simplicity of a school day routine, allowing them to focus on work and the countless responsibilities required to keep their families housed, fed, and secure. 

However, from my admittedly privileged perspective of distance (my kiddos are long ago grown & gone), I also recognize the potential hidden dangers of choosing the path of least resistance. Like water invading spaces meant to stay dry, this seemingly easier route may lead to unwelcome consequences that can gradually compromise the original best of intentions.  

With that being said, I am sending all the families who are making these difficult decisions my heartfelt, warmest wishes. I sincerely hope their children discover the fulfillment, success, and growth they are seeking within the walls of a more structured environment.  

And as always, Deep Root Center’s doors remain wide open, ready to welcome anyone back with kindness and understanding if their journey takes an unexpected turn.   

The Center and Digby Doo are ready for our kiddos to return on Sept. 8th!
We have a few spaces open, if your child is seeking an alternative to school that meets them where they are at, get in touch. 

As summer comes to an end and fall approaches, you may be looking for somewhere to get involved—to share your financial resources, time, or talent. Deep Root Center relies on folks from our community to help us keep our promises to the families of the NoCo. Learn how you can get involved here. 

I believe, as a culture, we do not fully understand what true intelligence entails; most would probably say it is what you know and can regurgitate on a test. However, according to my handy Apple Dictionary, intelligence is defined as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills."  And Merriam-Webster concurs, also adding  “to deal with new or trying situations - also  : the skilled use of reason and (2) the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such as tests).” (Interestingly, the second part of the Merriam-Webster definition is what anthropologists have historically used to differentiate humans from other species.) 

We often hear folks referred to as “book smart” or street smart” as if intelligence is static and one-dimensional and you either have it or don’t. We typically discount the brilliant people who are labeled with learning disabilities or those who are kinesthetically, spatially, inter or intra-personally, linguistically, musically, or the hyper-aware of the natural world — kind of smart. 

Additionally, portions of society revere the fake “experts,” who have found a wide-reaching platform for their nonsense, but denigrate the professional scientists, naturalists, and academics who follow the rules of scientific inquiry, by asking questions, acknowledging facts, and seeking out new ways forward. Some (I) would even claim that we are in an era of anti-intellectualism – it seems objectively cool to be dumb or willfully misguided, but still argue that the misinformation (lies) they spout are in fact the truth. 

With that in mind, I believe that in addition to the ability to learn new things and apply them, intelligence ultimately includes the capacity to view novel or previously unfamiliar ideas or theories with an unbiased, receptive, and open mind with the flexibility to change your perception of those things based on that fresh information. And to use that new understanding to think critically and solve problems. 

You may recognize that this all harkens back to the “Doing Better” post I wrote two weeks ago when I highlighted the Maya Angelou quote: “Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better.” 

This past week, I encountered a person who was deeply mired in some notions that were part of their belief system, which were then supported and perpetuated by their confirmation bias. They fully maintained everything they were saying and were unable to even hear anything beyond their prejudiced comprehension of what I was expressing. Based on those differences, they decided DRC is not the right place for their child. I can only hope that I gave them some information to consider outside of our conversation and that they may now know better, at least to the tiniest degree. 

This conversation was a test of my resolve to speak facts and uphold the DRC promise of inclusivity and utter kindness that we extend to everyone, while remaining courteous and polite. We will not change who we are and how we operate to gain membership. If we can’t uphold our philosophy, most fundamental values, and dedication to provide a non-coercive, equitable, respectful, transparent, and openminded environment that supports all forms of intelligence, independent investigation around personal interests, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, as well as sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, diverse ethnicities, and yes, even religious beliefs, then we are nothing.  

Summer Program Cancelled
Sadly, due to a lack of participants, our Summer Program will not run this year. We will consider providing it next August, only if we hear expressed interest. 

*Author’s Note: Due to spending all day yesterday at our Craft Fair & Family Fun Event, I am once again recycling a post, with a few edits, from several years ago. It is fun to look back and realize that our philosophy and mission have not changed in these past ten years.

Uniquely Personalized
8/31/2015

Self-directed education is the core principle behind Deep Root Center and other organizations in the Liberated Learners Network. I believe those simple words profess to the world that we are in the business of supporting one kid at a time, in the real world, according to their individual interests, needs, and desires. 

But what does that really mean? We have all heard the phrases “individualized” or “student-centered education”. Those pedagogies, in my opinion, try to bring out each student's interests within a formalized and structured curriculum and classroom or school setting. The schools that utilize these philosophies, however, offer some form of coercion (albeit subtle) and are not able to sincerely look at each student as a unique being, because their internal structure is governed by the requirements set forth by the state or the administration of private learning institutions. (You can read more about Self-Directed vs Progressive Education in an article written by Developmental Psychologist, Peter Gray, here.)

A truly self-directed education provides open options and free choice for each learner, by listening and utilizing the information gathered through multiple conversations and mentoring sessions to create a personalized learning plan. These plans often include: independent research, hands-on projects, group classes, online classes, one-on-one tutorials, and even auditing SUNY Canton classes, internships, or apprenticeships in the community. 

The beauty of this process is that the student and the mentor both understand the plan is completely organic and alive; they are both entirely willing to scrap the original, at any time, because life happens, interests change, and new experiences and explorations may expose new learning opportunities. 

Some students thrive in academically demanding situations, while others seek out a relaxed, go-with-the-flow learning experience. In the fluid, flexible, and non-coercive self-directed learning environment, these two contrasting styles and personalities mesh perfectly. 

Everyone understands that they have options and no one is being forced to do anything they do not want to do. The staff is not worried that one student who is engaged in a rigorous lesson will be influenced to leave the class simply because another is sitting at the next table, surrounded by their latest project and rocking out with headphones firmly attached to their ears. 

A self-directed education simply requires an open and welcoming environment, supportive mentors and facilitators, positive relationships, mutual respect, and the individual, intrinsic desire to learn.

By Maria Corse
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​Here’s a secret: My biggest fear is that I may appear dumb, uninformed, ignorant, or, to put it in less kindly terms, like a bumbling idiot. 
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As a high-masking neurodivergent individual, I work overtime to make sure that particular worry never comes to pass. In fact, I spend so much time managing how I am perceived that many would never, in a million years, have guessed that underneath the surface, I am a hot, anxious mess, constantly struggling to maintain the image of being calm, capable, intelligent, and sometimes even witty. 

An enormous part of this is my effort to learn, consciously use, and present correct terminology, ideas, and concepts I didn’t know much about or had an outdated understanding of until relatively recently. For example, my understanding of the issues surrounding the LGBTQIA community has increased exponentially over the past few years, as has my knowledge around disability (especially the invisible types, including the scourge of ablism), neurodivergence, and the difficult topics of extreme poverty, the unhoused, and the more recent horrors that immigrants and asylum seekers face. 

These are all things I had a basic grasp of—until I realized that folx from all walks of life are struggling hard, and I can be a better ally simply by learning more about the challenges they face every single day. 

As the great Maya Angelou famously said, “Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better.” 

It is a quote I live by. We are all out here doing the best we can. However, when you are wide open to new ideas and ways of being, including using correct and current vernacular, you can learn to be kinder, gentler, less judgmental, more generous, extra grateful for your blessings, and you may even discover hidden gems about the world that were previously concealed from your view that make life a little more meaningful.