In this rich and reflective episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma dive deep into Experience and Education by John Dewey. Originally published in 1938, the book becomes a springboard for a vibrant discussion on progressive education, child-led learning, the value of experience, and how educators balance freedom and guidance.

Through laughter, strong opinions, and candid stories, the hosts grapple with Dewey’s sometimes treacle-thick prose to uncover thought-provoking insights about what makes an experience truly educational. They explore the difference between growth and stagnation, miseducative experiences, social dynamics in play, and how adult scaffolding can empower rather than control. Along the way, they draw connections to Forest School practice, video games, play-based politics, trauma-informed care, and more.

If you've ever questioned whether unschooling goes far enough, how to support children through tough social learning, or whether your provision truly promotes growth, this episode offers plenty of nourishment.

🌿 Sponsor Info:
This episode is supported by:

• TENTSILE – makers of the world’s most versatile tree tents. Listeners get 10% off with code ForestChildren10 at www.tentsile.com

• Chris Holland's 54-Page Plant ID Guide – a fantastic resource for outdoor educators. Get 10% off with the code ForestSchoolPodcast at: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast

⏱ Chapter Timings:
00:00 – New book announcement: Myths of Outdoor Play and Learning
01:00 – Editing, self-censorship, and leaving things in
02:00 – Introducing Dewey’s Experience and Education
03:00 – Treacle prose, condensed thought, and key definitions
06:00 – Educative vs miseducative experiences
09:30 – Flora ID, exponential learning, and “doors opening”
13:00 – Play, politics, democracy, and social control
17:30 – The myth of autocratic play and peer-led fairness
24:00 – Curating experience without authoritarianism
27:00 – Revisiting your ethos: what do you stand for, not just against?
31:00 – Transferring knowledge across contexts and the dog metaphor
36:00 – Trauma, context, and the ethics of knowing too much
45:00 – Holistic elicitation and being the “lines” between the dots

🌲 Keywords: John Dewey, Experience and Education, progressive education, educative experience, miseducative experience, Forest School philosophy, holistic observation, unschooling critique, experiential learning, play as politics, trauma-informed practice, self-control, external vs internal control, Dewey and democracy

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#ForestSchool #JohnDewey #OutdoorLearning #ProgressiveEducation #ExperientialLearning #PlayBasedLearning #HolisticEducation #TraumaInformedEducation #ChildLedLearning #ForestSchoolPodcast #CPD #Unschooling #NatureBasedEducation #DemocraticPlay #ReflectivePractice

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