I recently shared three radical ideas to transform education without school. In it, I shared Linda Dobson’s timeless article, When the School Doors Close: A Midsummer Night’s Dream where she outlines the transformation that would occur if schools ceased to exist and instead we engaged in community-centered learning. Rather than compulsory, age-based facilities, with community learning people choose to attend and learn about topics of deep personal passion and interest. There would be many options available to individuals of any age. The community takes ownership and responsibility of the learning and well-being of others. As my wise friend Jeff Pulver recently said, “The only difference between a dream and reality is making it happen.”
There is a community that is doing just that. I learned about this community from Arif Hidayat. Although we aren’t the same age, live on opposite ends of the earth, and don’t speak the same language we are connected by our passion to provide children with learning opportunities that best fit their needs. Through the wonders of Google Translate we have been able to engage in an ongoing dialogue where he has shared stories about two Learning Communities in Indonesia.