Get Out of the Way and Let Kids Learn

 What happens when a Harvard student starts asking why school is the way it is? For Katy Purviance, that question changed everything.In this conversation with Carl Rust (author of Get Out of the Way and Let Kids Learn), Katy shares the journey that took her from architecture student to ESL teacher across 5 countries — Poland, Oman, China, Albania, and the United States — and ultimately to founding the Spokane Learning Co-op: Washington State's only outdoor self-directed education center.They dig into questions that every parent and educator is quietly asking:* Why do kids who "cause trouble" in school often become the strongest leaders outside of it?* What's the difference between democracy and sociocracy — and why does it matter for kids?* How do you talk to parents about alternative education without shutting them down?* What does consent actually look like in a school setting?* Why did being too poor for an indoor space become the best thing that ever happened to this school?Whether you're a parent questioning the system, a teacher feeling trapped, or someone who's just never felt okay with the way school works — this one's for you. Learn more about the Spokane Learning Co-op: www.spokanelearningcoop.org Read Katy's weekly Substack: katypurviance.substack.com 

Carl discusses different types of schools and puts them on a continuum from optimal to disaster. Part of the differences between schools is how they deal with conflict and disagreements. If schools could adopt "Do No Harm" as a motto, things would greatly improve.

Carl reflects on the first few weeks of a new school year. He has been subbing in a variety of buildings, grade levels, and settings. He also talks about how the narrative that we tell about what we are trying to do can make us happy, healthy, and open or miserable, unhappy, and closed. Also why do schools have beautiful courtyards that don't get used?