Saint Louis Sudbury staff and board members attended the Alternative Education Resource Organization conference (AERO) in Manchester, New Hampshire June 27-29, 2025. Founded in 1989 by Jerry Mintz, AERO’s goal is to advance student-driven, learner-centered approaches to education.
We had a wonderful time learning, connecting, asking questions, and getting to know a wide range of alternative education organizations, researchers, students, and parents. Some conference highlights included:
* Talking with colleagues at Macomber Center, Embark Center, Sudbury Valley School, and Play Mountain Place in between sessions and at meals
* Hearing Pat Farenga speak about “Schooling as Social Ritual: Reclaiming Public Spaces for Learning and Friendship
* Unschooler Mason Ember sharing his trailer for a new documentary about the lives of homeschooled teens
* Getting a better sense of how sociocracy works at Embark Center
* Hearing from Macomber Center staff about how they started their school from scratch and how they support young people interested in college
* Hearing Peter Gray share his research and insights about “How Restrictions on Children’s Freedom Impair Their Mental Health: a 75-Year History of Childhood in America
* Hearing Mikel Matisoo discuss how democracy works at Sudbury Valley School
* Learning how Elizabeth Radday plans and implements personal interest projects with youth
* Discovering the Ashram School and rethinking what democracy is for
* And much more!
It was an inspiring and energizing experience and Sudbury staff and board have some new ideas and plans to help grow Saint Louis Sudbury School.
