#098 - What Einstein *actually* said about school

Plus: A public school's radical 1-day schedule experiment & why Outschool might be education's Netflix moment

Author

Charlie Deist
December 16, 2024

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đź’ˇ THOUGHT

Albert Einstein on his early education

In a world overflowing with misattributed Einstein quotes, it’s refreshing to find one he actually said that speaks so pointedly to the state of modern education:

"The teachers behaved like sergeants. I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam... I felt that my thirst for knowledge was being strangled by my teachers; grades were their only measurement. How can a teacher understand youth with such a system?"

– Albert Einstein, as quoted in Einstein and the Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man (1983) by William Hermanns

đź“Š TREND

Public Schools Are Getting the Hybrid Memo

A public school in Tennessee is experimenting with a new model: students attend brick-and-mortar classes just one day a week, learning from home the other four.

  • Teachers love it (90%+ satisfaction vs just 18% in traditional schools).

  • Parents get the best of both worlds: professional guidance + family time

  • Kids benefit from personalized attention and flexible pacing

It’s great to see public school districts embracing the idea that education doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. You can blend the structure of traditional schooling with the flexibility of home learning.

Could this be the beginning of a bigger shift in public education? With teacher burnout at record highs and more families seeking alternatives, hybrid models might just be the bridge many have been waiting for.

🛠️ TOOL

Outschool.com

Just when you thought you'd figured out the difference between unschooling and deschooling, along comes Outschool. But don't let the name fool you – this isn't about avoiding education, it's about reimagining it.

Think of Outschool as the Netflix of learning, except instead of binge-watching trashy TV shows, your kids might find themselves binge-learning about anything from Minecraft coding to medieval history.

Here’s what makes Outschool special:

  • Small group classes (typically 2-8 students)

  • Passionate teachers who create their own courses

  • Flexible scheduling (one-time classes to ongoing courses)

  • Real-time interaction with experts and peers

  • Market-driven quality (poorly rated classes don't survive)

As the company’s founder Amir Nathoo recently shared on the LiberatED podcast: "When parents realize that letting kids pursue their interests is a way to get them excited about learning and is a better way to help their kids thrive in the world, that's really powerful to see."

OpenEd families get 20% off all classes and tutoring with code OPENED20 at checkout. You can also try classes before you commit. Teachers post video introductions, and most offer single-session classes so you can test the waters before diving into longer courses.

Have you tried Outschool? Share your family's favorite classes as a reply to this email!

That’s all for today!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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