Research & articles

Robin Grille

Robin Grille is a former Kinma parent, a psychologist in private practice with twenty years' experience, and a parenting educator. His articles on parenting and child development have been widely published in Australia and overseas. Robin's first book: 'Parenting for a Peaceful World' (2005) has received international acclaim and led to speaking engagements around Australia, USA and New Zealand. 'Heart to Heart Parenting' (ABC Books) is Robin's second book. A passionate speaker and social change activist, Robin's extensive research has led him to feel that improved attention to babies' and children's emotional needs is the most powerful way to move societies toward sustainability and peace.

Articles by Robin Grille:

• WHAT YOUR CHILD REMEMBERS
• GOOD CHILDREN AT WHAT PRICE?:
• THE SECRET COST OF SHAME

Louise Porter

An Australian Child Psychologist with almost 30 years' experience in private practice, consulting with parents and practitioners about children's development, behaviour, and social or emotional challenges. Louise has worked in mainstream and disability agencies and lectured at Flinders University in South Australia, having spoken extensively in Australia and internationally.

Articles by Louise Porter:

• Homework Hysteria
• Learning Styles
• Motivating children
• Praise

Alfie Kohn

• The Truth About Homework
• Feel-Bad Education The Cult of Rigor and the Loss of Joy
• Progressive Education; Why It’s Hard to Beat, But Also Hard to Find
• The (Progressive) Schools Our Children Deserve

Sir Ken Robinson

World-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award, Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

• Changing Education Paradigms
• Schools Kill Creativity

http://sirkenrobinson.com/

John Taylor Gatto

• The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher
• Why Schools Don’t Educate
• A Map, A Mirror and a Wrist Watch
• THE EXHAUSTED SCHOOL

John Holt

• The Needs and Rights of Children
• Competent Self Directed Learning

• Grade Wool and Wheat, Not Our Kids! By Sean Burke
• Australian Schooling: A History of Social Control By Susan Wight
• Co-operacy – Enabling the Change By Stuart Hill

Organisations

ADEC

The Australasian Democratic Education Community (ADEC) is for all those interested and involved in progressive, alternative and democratic education.

It is for learners and educators regardless of age. It is for all in the community who wish to share and extend their experience and knowledge of such education. AAPAE provides a forum for discussion, debate, and research, a network for sharing and support and an incorporated association of likeminded individuals, schools, learning centres and education institutions working together on common issues.

IDEN

The International Democratic Education Network (IDEN) is a network of schools, organisations and individuals all round the world that uphold ideals that include:

• respect and trust for children
• equality of status of children and adults
• shared responsibility
• freedom of choice of activity
• democratic governance by children and staff together, without reference to any supposedly superior guide or system.

Members are self-selected. Their names and addresses and a minimal description appear in a data-base on the web site, and they receive two or three newsletters a year, mainly giving information about recent and future IDECs.

AERO

AERO's mission is to help create an education revolution to make student-centered alternatives available to everyone.

Towards this end, AERO provides information, resources and guidance to families, schools and organizations regarding their educational choices. AERO disseminates information internationally on topics such as: homeschooling, public and private alternative schools, and charter schools. AERO's long-term goal is to become a more effective catalyst for educational change by providing books, magazines, conferences, online courses, consultations, support groups, free videos, and organizational information and seminars in the field of alternative education.

IDEA

The Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA) believes in an education that allows students and teachers to discover and expand their capacity and joy for learning and to thrive through active participation in vibrant learning communities.

Other schools

N.S.W

• Currambena Primary School & Preschool, Lane Cove
• Korowal Primary and High School, Blue Mountains

Victoria

• Fitzroy Community School, North Fitzroy
• Hurstbridge Learning Co-op, Hurstbridge
• Preshil, Melbourne
• Village School, Croydon North

Queensland

• Blackall Range Independant School, Kureelpa
• Brisbane Independant School, Pullenvale
• Maridahdi Early Childhood Community School, Toowoomba
• Pine Community School, Brisbane

South Australia

• Kirinari Community School, Unley

Tasmania

• Peregrine School, Nicholls Rivulet

New Zealand

• Tamariki School, Christchurch

For international schools, please check out Wikipedia's List of Democratic Schools

Conferences

ADEC Conference

• 2012 - Pine Community School, Brisbane
  
• 2011 - Currambena, Sydney (October)
• 2010 - Hurstbridge Learning Co-Op, VIC
• 2009 - Tamariki, Christchurch New Zealand, Wednesday 15^th - Friday, 17^th April 2009. The programme is available here.
• 2007 - Kinma in Terrey Hills, Sydney from Wed 3^rd-Fri 5^th Oct 2007. The theme was Healthy Planet, Healthy Schools Healthy People. For more information, click here.
• 2006 - IDEC 2006, Sydney
• 2005 - Preshil School in Kew, Melbourne
• 2004 - Fitzroy Community School, Melbourne
• 2003 - Pine Community School, Brisbane
• 2002 - Marbury, Adelaide [recollection & photos]
• 2001 - Currambena, Sydney

The International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC)

IDEC 2011

The combined IDEC and EUDEC 2011 Conference will be held from the 5th to the 14th July 2011 at The River Dart Country Park, in Devon, in the south-west of England, between Plymouth and Exeter.

• International Democratic Education Network - further information and a data-base of democratic schools
• IDEC 2003 was held in Troy, New York, USA
• IDEC 2004 was held in Bhubaneshwar, India, from Dec 3rd to Dec 12th 2004
• IDEC 2005 was held in Berlin, Germany, July 30th to Aug 7th 2005
• IDEC 2006 was held in Sydney, Australia, July 10th to July 16th 2006
• IDEC 2007 was held in São Paulo, Brazil, September 8th to 16th 2007
• IDEC 2008 was held in Vancouver, Canada, August 11th to 18th 2008
• IDEC 2009 was to have been held in South Korea, August 1st to 8th 2009
• IDEC 2010 was held in Tel-Aviv, Israel, April 6th to 13th 2010
• IDEC 2011 was held at the Sands School, England
• IDEC 2012 was held at Nuestra Escuela, Puerto Rico

AERO (Alternative Education Resource Organization)

"Transforming Education & Our World"
8th Annual AERO Conference
August 4-7, 2011 | Red Lion Hotel on the River | Portland, OR
http://www.educationrevolution.org/registration.html