Ireland's first democratic school of self-directed learning
A 2013 study from Google found that the company's most innovative and important ideas came less often from the teams characterised by technical excellence, and more from B teams who practiced equality, generosity, and curiosity towards each others' ideas and above all emotional safety. These are the qualities most valued in Sudbury schools as well. …
Continue reading STEMocratic Schools: Why Google Should Embrace the Sudbury Model
While the rest of us are enjoying spring as it gets into its full flow, some 59,000 students around the country will be expected to have their heads buried in books as they cram in every last little fact they can before their doomsday June exams. With its emphasis on rote learning, the disproportionate value …
According to the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, 1 in 5 women in Ireland have experience of sexual assault but only 1 in 4 report it. There is a 5% conviction rate for those that are reported. An excellent article by Donal O'Keefe on the Avondhu website discussing rape culture in Ireland cites the definition of …
Most people are familiar with the methods of punishment used in mainstream schools. Rules are made and enforced from the top down, and students have little or no power to influence these structures. Students face consequences for stepping out of line even in very minimal ways, like forgetting a homework assignment or running late for …
In light of International Women's Day, we want to highlight the role that the education system plays in the mental health and well-being of girls and young women. In the video above, Maya, a Wicklow Sudbury student, discusses how her experience at our school has been different from her experiences at other schools and how …
Many of us remember the feeling of the summer holidays slipping away as kids, or excitement building as it came up to mid-term break and a well-earned rest. Or the collective sigh of relief when Friday comes around and you can go home and spread out on the couch or play outside to your heart's …
After much research and consultation, the members of the Wicklow Sudbury School founding committee has concluded that Ireland provides one of the most solid legal foundations in Europe for Sudbury Schools. Two particular elements of law govern the question of educational provision in Ireland for children who are not attending recognised schools, these are the …
Dave Brown a.k.a Boyinaband is a British rapper, producer and vlogger. He is most known for his collaboration with Minx and for his song "Don't Stay In School" on the inadequacies of the traditional school system which went viral and has been viewed over 11 million on Youtube. Since then he has done his homework …
Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple - or more difficult. Difficult, because to trust children we must trust ourselves - and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted. ~ John Holt This is the first in a series posts that I will be writing for our …
It's amazing the power of conversation. How an exchange of words can create something real and concrete, can lead to so many possibilities. It's one of the most compelling catalysts we have for creating the world we want to live in. Having an honest and open conversation even with a stranger can mean something that …
