Recommended Reading List
Please consider supporting The Alternative Education Resource Organization by purchasing books from them (most of the following titles are available on their online store). Some of these books are also available in bookstores and libraries (all may be bought online), as well as in our own school library. Please remember that these books do not represent the school’s specific philosophy, but many do support it or are of interest in relation to alternative education.
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto
How Children Fail by John Holt
Freedom and Beyond by John Holt
Escape From Childhood by John Holt
Instead of Education by John Holt
Deschooling Our Lives by Matt Hern
Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Childrearing by A.S. Neil
Making It Up As We Go Along by Chris Mercogliano
Teaching the Restless by Chris Mercogliano
The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses by John Breeding, Ph.D.
Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich
Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn
Free at Last by Daniel Greenberg
Legacy of Trust by Mimsy Sadofsky & Daniel Greenberg
The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn
Parenting for Social Change by Theresa Graham Brett
If there is a title that you feel should be included on this list, email us with full title & author, and we will consider adding it. Suggested titles should be relevant to the free schooling/ unschooling movement and should be of use to those trying to choose an educational path for themselves or for those trying to support the young people in their lives in making choices.
Education Websites
Alternative Education Revolution
John Holt and Growing Without Schooling
Rethinking Education Conference
Community Member Websites
HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy & Literacy)
Sonic Visions Artist Cooperative
4 Part Project for Change – Art / Healing / Education / Sustainability
The Real School 