Q: What would education be like in an anarchist society?
A: So, my first answer to these types of questions is always “whatever is required in that specific society,” but I recognize you’re probably looking for a bit more depth.
To start an answer, let’s explore what principles an anarchist society might adopt and how the current education model of modern schooling totally fails in contrast:
Anti-authoritarianism: Anarchism opposes all forms of hierarchical authority and seeks to dismantle systems of domination and control, including the state, capitalism, and other forms of oppression. If we look at the current educational model employed by most schools in western culture, they are built on systems of authority. When many people try to imagine a “schoolish” environment without authoritarianism, they can’t. It’s too foreign.
Individual autonomy: Anarchism values individual freedom and autonomy, emphasizing the right of individuals to make their own choices and live according to their own desires, as long as those choices do not infringe upon the freedom of others. Again, autonomy isn’t a value that modern education systems place any value on. It’s hard to see how schools might adapt to this ideal.
Voluntary association: Anarchism promotes voluntary cooperation and association among individuals and groups, based on mutual aid and solidarity rather than coercion or force. While not every kid hates going to school, many do. If given the chance, most of them would likely opt out.
Direct democracy: Anarchism advocates for decentralized, directly democratic forms of decision-making, where individuals participate directly in the decisions that affect their lives rather than relying on representatives or hierarchical structures. While there are systems in some schools, like the student's council or similar structures, it’s rare that the students actually have any say in what they are learning, how they are taught, or how the schools run.
Mutual aid: Anarchism emphasizes the importance of mutual aid and support among individuals and communities, where people come together to help each other meet their needs and achieve common goals without the need for centralized authority. I would suggest that most modern schooling systems consider this principle important, but true implementation is lacking. I mean, I see stories in the news each week about tuition and lunch room debt, so the financial support is lacking. Some argue that classroom environments promote competition between students, which is not quite the mutual aid that we’re looking for.
Opposition ownership and private property: Anarchism critiques capitalism as a system that perpetuates inequality and exploitation, advocating for the abolition of private property and the establishment of common ownership and democratic control over resources and means of production. In contrast, modern education is actually designed to inject students into the capitalist workforce and bases almost all curriculum requirements around meeting this goal.
As we can see, anarchism and modern education are inherently at odds. This is because the modern education system that was developed in the early to mid-19th century was designed to create a baseline of education that could churn out new meat for the capitalist workforce. Basic reading, writing, and math were emphasized, while critical thinking and the option to follow interests were discouraged.
The truth, though, is that there is only a small fraction of education that actually takes place in schools. Most of us—people of all ages—learn simply by living life. As an adult, it’s easy to see this learning happen in real time. Adults learn based on their interests or needs, seeking knowledge from different sources like mentors, books, elders, the internet—whatever resources make the most sense for the type of knowledge required.
Let’s call this type of learning "self-directed," meaning that no one is imposing knowledge on us and no one is forcing us to sit down and learn. Self-directed learning is how most people actually acquire the knowledge for most of the things they know. It happens outside the classroom, often without even knowing that learning is happening.
The wild and crazy thing is that kids also learn the same way. When they have an interest, they follow that interest to learn the things they need to know. Self-directed education (or SDE for short), thankfully, is actually a thing, and we practice it in my family. I am an unschooling mom to two awesome boys (14 and 7) who haven’t been to school for the last 6 years. Unschooling is the homeschooling version of SDE, but you can find self-directed schools like the Sudbury model, Alternative Learning Centres (ALCs), or free schools.
So let’s take a look at some of the basic principles that inform the self-directed model of education:
Autonomy: Individuals have the freedom to choose what, when, how, and where they learn. They are not bound by a predetermined curriculum or schedule imposed by external authorities.
Intrinsic Motivation: Learning is driven by the individual's intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and interests rather than external rewards or punishments.
Active Participation: Learners are actively engaged in the learning process, taking initiative to explore topics that interest them, ask questions, seek out resources, and pursue projects or activities that align with their goals and passions.
Experiential Learning: Self-directed education often emphasizes experiential learning, where individuals learn through hands-on experiences, experimentation, and the real-world application of knowledge and skills. Some folks even just call it “living life.”
Personalized Learning: The learning process is tailored to the unique needs, interests, and abilities of each individual learner. There is flexibility to accommodate diverse learning styles, paces, and preferences.
Collaboration: While self-directed learners have autonomy over their learning, they often engage with peers, mentors, and communities of learners to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and seek support and feedback.
If we take a peek back up the page at those principles of anarchism, you’ll find that the SDE model is a much better match.
The major criticisms of the self-directed approach often come from people deeply ingrained in modern education culture. Most unschoolers will tell you that the first thing you have to do when you are unschooling your kids is to go through a period of "deschooling," a period of time where you do absolutely nothing educational to let “schoolishness” fade from existence. Most of us are culturally indoctrinated to believe that we HAVE to go to school and that education HAS to be coercive. This period of deschooling allows trust to return to relationships, and the idea that we only learn in a classroom leaves our thoughts. Deschooling is hard! But when you come out the other side having rejected the notion that school is the only place you can receive an education, self-directed learning is truly a beautiful experience to witness.
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