What is Free Skool Santa Cruz?

What is Free Skool Santa Cruz?

As pandemic safety measures are shifting we are excited to relaunch a not entirely new, not all too different version of Free Skool Santa Cruz  – a project in mutual aid learning and sharing.

What skills do you have to share?

What types of classes would help grow more vibrant and self-reliant communities?

A radically different approach to living and learning, Free Skool Santa Cruz is a grassroots educational project beyond institutional control. It is an opportunity to learn from each other and share what we know, to foster communities of mutual support and autonomy.

What does the “free” in Free Skool mean? Free as in free expression, free thought, and liberation. We try to keep Free Skool firmly fixed in a gift economy and outside the stream of commerce. While some teachers may ask for a donation to cover materials, no one is turned away for lack of funds. 

We see Free Skool as a direct challenge to dominant institutions and hierarchical relationships. The project strives to blur the lines between teacher, learner, and organizer. Free Skool is decentralized, with classes held in social spaces and parks.

Part of creating a new world is resistance to the old one. Through this project, we want to change the way we learn and the way we relate to each other.

A version of Free Skool Santa Cruz existed from 2005-2014 – also influenced by a previous Free School in Santa Cruz some years earlier that some 2005 organizers had participated in – by attending and teaching classes. In 2005, organizers decided to do their own version of the project (with a “k” for “Skool”) and a greater focus on radical culture that would be inviting to all. After 9 years and hundreds of classes and participants organizers decided to retire the project and focus elsewhere… and over the years people have fondly remembered the project and the way their lives were enriched by the experience of learning new skills, making friends, sharing passions, and having varied experiences together.

This version of Free Skool Santa Cruz also includes organizers had participated in 2005 Free Skool – as organizers and teachers and students. So much to do and learn together. This summer is another opportunity.

Here is a link to a folder of all of the calendars from 2005-2014:  2005-2014 calendars