45 Years of Microschools in Philadelphia

It was exactly six years ago that I visited Philadelphia and the surrounding area to see what was happening there in terms of schooling alternatives. I was in the thick of writing Unschooled, a book that shares the history, philosophy, and practice of self-directed education, or an educational approach focused on providing young people maximum freedom to drive their own learning. Known for its role as the birthplace of American liberty in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia was also a pioneering place for promoting greater independence and freedom in young people’s learning.