European Democratic Education Conference

I attended the European Democratic Education Conference held in the Netherlands in early August. It was attended by almost 300 people – and not all from Europe. I did a session on our work using Self Managed Learning. It attracted a great deal of interest and subsequently I have made contact with and sent material to people in Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Sri Lanka and the USA. What has attracted many is how our research has proved the value of our work and how our processes can add value to what people are wanting to develop.

Interesting features of the event were some live streamings from other countries. A colleague from Japan gave direct evidence of the continuing spread of democratic schools and learning communities. The total now stands at over 500 and through their association they are now talking directly to the Minister of Education about support for their work.

Other examples of the spread of new forms of democratic, self directed programmes were discussed in the Conference. Clearly the growing rejection of authoritarian schooling is gaining ground all over the world as new ventures come to fruition.

Ian Cunningham.