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💡 THOUGHT

Albert Einstein on his early education

Albert Einstein on his school and Education system💡

It bored me. The teachers behaved like sergeants. I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam. What I hated most was the competitive system there, and especially sports. Because of this, I… x.com/i/web/status/1…

— Physics In History (@PhysInHistory)
4:10 AM • Dec 13, 2024

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

📊 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.

Read more at the 74 Million →

🛠️ 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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