Speaking Topics
The Legacy of John Holt
An overview of John Holt's life and work and how his personal journey from school reformer to unschooler can inform our own journeys from schooling to unschooling. A 90-minute presentation, featuring some video footage of Holt, with questions and answers throughout.
Teach Your Own Seminar
A revised three-hour seminar that uses best practices, case histories, personal stories, and exercises to give you the confidence to support your child's self-directed learning. This seminar also covers what parents can do to aid and report self-directed learning, also known as unschooling, to school officials and others.
Chat with Pat
If you don't want to organize an event and just want to have an informal group discussion with me, considerthis. For $250 I'm willing to drive within 30 miles of my home and spend 90 minutes with you and your friends discussing how children learn and grow without schooling, or other topics of your choice. I've discussed the work of Ivan Illich and Holt, parenting challenges, learning issues, children's rights, and other topics in small groups so we can dive deep into a question, or broadly survey the landscape for trends and ideas.
I can address many other topics, too, so call me with your ideas.
If you're interested in having me speak to your group, school, or association please contact me to inquire about rates and availability.
E-mail: patfarenga@johnholtgws.com
2021 Speaking Engagements
September 28, 7PM at the Alliance for Self-Directed Education
Pat will give a short talk about his journey with Teach Your Own and how the book has changed his life and society’s vision of education in its three editions over four decades. From the Back to Basics school reforms in the 1980s to the major changes being caused now by the pandemic, Teach Your Own has served as an escape hatch to a broad, relaxed vision of education for many families over the years.
October 10, Noon, EST. AERO (Alternative Education Resource Organization)
Join a chat with Pat Farenga about his new edition of Teach Your Own, learning outside of school, and unschooling in general. Sunday, October 10, at noon EST. This is a live Zoom session.
October 19 –23, The International Post COVID Child Education Summit
Interviews with Pat Farenga, Dr. Peter Gray, and many other alternative education advocates.
More details forthcoming from the organizer.
A sampling of national media appearances and interviews by Pat Farenga about homeschooling and unschooling:
Good Morning America
The Today Show
Dr. Drew Pinsky Show
Consider This on Al Jazeera America
The Merrow Report on National Public Radio
Parenting Today
The New York Times
The Wall Street Journal
Geraldo At Large
Fox Across America
Fox and Friends
Teacher Magazine
The Chicago Tribune
The Boston Globe, newspaper and magazine
Here is a selection of groups, schools, and associations I've addressed:
American Library Association, New Orleans, LA
Alternative Education Resource Organization, NY
Bridgewater State College, MA
Clonlara School, MI
Connecticut Library Association
Education Paperback Association, FL
Ethical Humanist Society, NY
The Exhausted School - Carnegie Hall, NY
Foundation for Educational Renewal, VT
Fitchburg State College, MA
Florida Parent Educator Association
Goddard College, VT
Harvard University, MA
Home Education Network of Ireland
Homeschoolers of California (HSC)
InHome's Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
Learning at Home, London, England
The Learning In Our Own Way Conference, MA
The LINK Homeschool conference, CA
Modern Language Association, PA
Massachusetts Library Association
National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools, MI
The National Homeschool Association, Washington, DC
The Nutmeg Scholars, CT
North Carolinians for Home Education
Nova Spes, Rome, Italy
Ohio Valley Library Association
Oregon Home Education Network
Pennsylvania State University
Playworks, MA
Plymouth Parent Network, MA
Radical Unschoolers, NH
Rethinking Education, Dallas, TX
Unschoolers Waterpark Gathering, OH
Washington Homeschool Organization, Seattle, WA