We were all seated for the documentary 'How Summerhill Works'. The documentary began with Zoë Neill Readhead, the daughter of Summerhill school founder A.S. Neil, explaining that the school offers not only 'freedom to' but also 'freedom from'. This distinction is important because children have the freedom to pursue their interests at Summerhill. But they also have the freedom from expectations, as classes are entirely optional. Summerhill has operated since 1921 as a democr

Come join us at the Hollandse Club (open for non-members as well!) for a fun-filled day where kids showcase their innovative ideas and creative businesses. At our fair, young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to set up their own booths, interact with customers, and make sales. It's a fantastic way for children to learn about business, money management, and customer service in a hands-on environment. Parents, bring your little ones to support their entrepreneurial spirit

Democratic schools have been around for a long time. The oldest and still-running school is A.S. Neill's Summerhill School. Founded in 1921, the school is run through school meetings in which both staff and students have an equal vote. The school has a policy of non-compulsory lessons, which means students have the freedom to pursue their interests beyond the classroom. "The function of the child is to live his own life – not the life that his anxious parents think he should

‘I’m afraid if my daughter doesn’t get an interest in reading, she will fall behind in school, won’t get good grades, won’t get into a good secondary school, won’t be able to go to university, won’t have a high-paying job, and won’t make enough pension contributions to retire comfortably!’, a nervous mum shared with her daughter’s teacher. Her daughter is four years old. The mom could be described as a kiasu parent. Kiasu is a Singlish term that is loosely translated as ‘afra

It was time for the third round of our Singapore Democratic School nature walk! The main topic of this walk was conflict resolution in democratic schools. A diverse group from different backgrounds arrived. Once we all gathered at Botanic Gardens MRT, we headed towards the Children's Garden. As soon as we settled on the grass at the foot of a small hill, we saw conflict unfolding. Children from two families who joined were having a conflict at the playground. One child was vi

Join us for a fun family-friendly nature walk with Singapore Democratic School and learn how conflict is handled in democratic schools. Do you take an interest in topics such as 'self-directed education', 'unschooling', and a child-centric approach towards education? Then join us for a fun and family-friendly nature walk! During our walk, we will be discussing how conflict is resolved in democratic schools. In democratic schools, the school rules are democratically decided by

From our friends at the European Democratic Education Conference (EUDEC): We are excited to invite you to participate in the 2026 European Democratic Education Community’s (EUDEC) annual conference in beautiful İzmir, Türkiye, from July 30 to August 6, 2026. The annual conference is the highlight of EUDEC calendar, bringing together scholars and volunteers active in democratic education from across the globe. It is a space to share research, exchange ideas, and foster intelle

Join us at the Children's Entrepreneurship Fair and support young entrepreneurs! Date: Sunday 17 May Time: 11:00 - 15:00 Location: Hollandse Club

Overview Join us for a fun family-friendly nature walk with Singapore Democratic School and discuss Peter Gray's book 'Free to Learn'! Nature Walk with Singapore Democratic School Do you take an interest in topics such as 'self-directed education', 'unschooling', and a child-centric approach towards education? Then join us for a fun and family-friendly nature walk! During our walk, we will be discussing the book 'Free to Learn' by Professor Peter Gray. In the book, Peter Gray