Why does education need rewilding?

The mainstream education system in the UK and beyond is deeply flawed. It was designed as a one-size-fits-all factory system which prioritises the needs of society and economy over those of individuals. It upholds the class system and perpetuates inequality and social injustice. It was built on patriarchal and racist assumptions and privileges particular knowledge. It locates power exclusively in adults and is highly controlling of children and young people. It is coercive and dehumanises students and teachers alike. It separates children and young people from their innate sense of self and distorts innate connections with the living world. These are not controversial points. They are well established facts. Schools are in a desperate state and the cracks have started to be chasms. The time for radical change is now.

Education needs rewilding. This means acknowledging the damage that has been done to children and young people and proactively finding ways to help everyone to flourish. We need dramatic transformation. We cannot merely tinker with this system or collude with the damage that it does to children, young people, and teachers.

We need extensive changes to the way that we, as a society, think about and ‘do’ education.

Alternative systems of education - including those offered by people working as home educators, unschoolers, bushcraft leaders, vision quest guides, youth workers and care farmers – offer insights into how education can be different, but these alternatives are not perfect. Indeed, some of them are flawed in similar ways to mainstream education, especially if they are built on the same foundations. Alternative and wild educators also benefit from exploring their practices through the lens of rewilding.

By working with educators who are involved across mainstream and alternative settings, we build communities of people who recognise that there is a different way, a better way, and we strengthen our networks so that we can endeavour to be as authentic, ethical, grounded, transformation and radical as we can. Together, we learn about new approaches, find a sense of solidarity, and maintain momentum to change our practices.