What if the man who invented modern American schooling didn't actually believe in it, not enough to send his own kids?
In this episode, Ben and Steve take Edufuturists live on stage in front of an audience at Minerva Virtual Academy's (MVA) 5th birthday celebration, launching their new book, Pick 'n' Mix Education. They're joined by MVA founder and CEO Hugh Viney and home educating parents Hannah and Olivia for an unfiltered conversation about why "one size fits all" schooling is failing families and what choice actually looks like in practice.
About our guests
Hugh Viney is the founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), returning for his second appearance on the Edufuturists podcast. MVA has been named Edufuturists Online School of the Year for two years running.
Hannah has home educated her children for nearly 16 years, previously worked in behaviour management at a pupil referral unit, and now has two of her older teens studying at MVA. She is on social media
Olivia is a home-educating mum of two who built an online following around family life before opening up about choosing education outside the mainstream system. She is on social media
We cover:
- The Woolworths "pick and mix" analogy at the heart of Ben and Steve's new book
- Horace Mann: the godfather of standardised American schooling who homeschooled his own kids
- Why every penny of profit from Pick 'n' Mix Education goes to youth mental health charity Beyond
- Hannah's move from unschooling to MVA, and the exam results that surprised her
- Redefining success beyond grades and dismantling the "they won't socialise" myth
And lots more!
Why you should listen
Recorded live in front of a festival field full of parents, educators and home-schooling families, this is Edufuturists at its most unfiltered - real stories from people who've chosen a different path, not theory about it. If you've ever wondered whether there's a genuine alternative to "the school at the end of the road," this conversation makes the case, live, warts and all.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:17 Welcome live from the MVA stage
2:27 Meet your hosts: Ben and Steve
3:52 The Woolworths analogy: what "pick and mix" education means
5:18 New book: Pick 'n' Mix Education and where the profits go
6:13 The Horace Mann paradox: he built standardised schooling, then homeschooled his own kids
7:47 Bringing the panel to the stage: Hugh, Hannah and Olivia
8:32 Hugh Viney: founder and CEO of MVA
9:45 Hannah: 16 years of home educating, now at MVA
10:32 Olivia: home-educating mum of two
11:28 The End of Average: the cockpit built for everyone that fit no one
12:39 Hannah's story: relationships, safety, and the results that surprised her
14:01 Beyond grades: celebrating the whole learner, and choosing rather than rejecting school
15:42 "But how will they socialise?"
17:26 What if parents controlled a share of education funding, like some US states allow?
19:06 What pick and mix actually looks like, day to day
20:24 Curiosity, autonomy, and the bedtime analogy
22:04 Inside MVA: weekly mentors, live lessons and self-directed learning
24:23 Why the trip is remembered and the lesson isn't
26:11 From unschooling to formal learning: what the transition actually looks like
27:50 Deferred starts, academy takeovers, and choosing freedom
29:12 "What works for my child" not what works at scale
30:27 MVA's mission for the next five years: first choice, not last resort
32:23 Quickfire Questions
36:35 MVA 5th Birthday Highlights Video
Find out more about MVA
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book
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