A Place To Be

Bo (5): mommy, I want honey melon on my bread please. Me: Honey melon on your bread… Bo: of course! Trying new things is great 😁 She doesn’t like … #unschooling

One reason why I invest so much love, time and effort into the upbringing of my daughters is because I would I like to nap with Bo when I’m 85 and she 50 🫶🏼 #lowtimepreference #unschooling #family

What Barnaby Taught Us About Learning and Free Will In my personal life, I’ve been engaging deeply with the topic of setting boundaries over the past few months, especially since my husband, who works as a mind coach, had a personal revelation that he shared with me. This theme has since been at the center of many of our conversations and the focus of observation in our own behaviors. It marked a breakthrough moment that triggered a series of insights, leading us to realize that our ability to set boundaries has strengthened significantly. And it feels AMAZING!!! It’s no coincidence that today, after months of setting it aside, I picked up John Taylor Gatto’s audiobook to finish it. In the final chapter of *Weapons of Mass Instruction*, the author tells the story of Barnaby, a student who defied the conventions of traditional education with the simple but profound declaration, “I prefer not to.” This phrase, which may sound passive, actually carries revolutionary power. For Gatto, Barnaby’s gentle refusal embodies the spirit of unschooling, the ability to question and reject systems that stifle curiosity and individual growth. It’s a reminder that the ability to say “no” — to exams, to standardized learning, to rigid systems — is a crucial tool in the journey toward true, self-directed education. In the world of unschooling, we often talk about fostering intrinsic motivation, nurturing curiosity, and respecting the individuality of each learner. Barnaby’s story brings these values into focus. He was not lazy, unintelligent, or defiant in a traditional sense. He was, in Gatto’s words, a young person aware of his autonomy and willing to defend it. By choosing not to participate in exams and evaluations, Barnaby was reclaiming his right to an education that made sense to him. He was rejecting the idea that his worth or abilities could be boiled down to a letter grade or a percentile rank. Barnaby’s “I prefer not to” resonates deeply with the ethos of unschooling. In an unschooling community, learning is pursued not because it’s mandated, but because it’s meaningful and relevant to each learner’s life. Rather than viewing exams and standardized tests as the ultimate markers of success, unschooling values a deeper, more personalized approach to learning. The pressure to conform, to achieve by external standards, is replaced by an emphasis on exploring passions, discovering strengths, and respecting the natural learning rhythms of each individual. John Taylor Gatto understood that one of the most powerful things a student can learn is how to refuse what doesn’t serve them. This idea isn’t about shirking responsibility; rather, it’s about exercising free will in a way that aligns with one’s values and genuine interests. Exams, after all, are designed to measure conformity and compliance as much as they are meant to assess knowledge. The freedom to say, “I prefer not to,” is the freedom to prioritize one’s learning journey over the arbitrary demands of the system. In many ways, Barnaby’s story is also a call to parents and educators. It challenges us to examine our own beliefs about education and question the value of the “academic hoops” students are so often forced to jump through. By encouraging our kids to question, resist, and reclaim their own education, we empower them to take control of their lives and learning. So when people ask why we don’t send our children to school, Gatto’s response seems the most fitting: “I prefer not to.” It’s a simple yet powerful way to honor our right to an education that aligns with our values. Barnaby’s journey demonstrates that learning is not a passive act; it’s something alive and full of potential. Through Gatto’s story, we’re reminded that saying “no” to what doesn’t feel right is often the first step toward saying “yes” to a life of authentic, joyful learning. And perhaps, that’s one of the greatest lessons we can give our children: the courage to choose, to think for themselves, and to reclaim the power of their own voice in a world that too often tries to silence it.

Lachlan (27) hasn’t spent a day at school and is as bright, happy and successful as can be 🤜🤛 Tune in to the #fiatproof podcast to hear more about it 🎧 https://youtu.be/8FZ2OHZMMvU?feature=shared #unschooling #greenpill #fiatproof

Wheely?

Super stoked to talk to our dear friend nostr:npub1lelkh3hhxw9hdwlcpk6q9t0xt9f7yze0y0nxazvzqjmre3p98x3sthkvyz who shot a documentary about APTB & #unschooling. He's super cool, talented, lives an amazing life and is a true #bitcoiner. We can all learn a lot from him 🤓 #fiatproof #bitcoin #unschooling #fiat-proofpodcast https://youtu.be/_aP5s1ufRTs?feature=shared

Was that you who bought us "Cool Chemistry Concoctions" book? 🫵 Thank you 💥 We'll put it to good use @ A Place To Be trying all the 50 formulas that fizz, foam, splatter and ooze 🧪🧑‍🔬⚗️👩‍🔬🔬 If you want to support us, here's what else we need: 🔬🎨🪘📚📋🏓🐔 🔦 https://geyser.fund/project/decentralisedworldschoolinghubmadeira

We recently bought a car, and I'm very pleased with it, especially since it's a 7-seater, allowing me to transport lots of friends. However, there is one thing that bothers me a bit... It has an inbuilt 'annoying co-pilot' that tells me what to do, advises me to be careful, and even controls the steering wheel sometimes!!! Can you imagine?! 😲 When I get 'too close' to a car in front, a big red circle flashes up on the display saying BREAK! The first few times I saw it, it distracted me quite a lot. When I don't hold the steering wheel stable at all times, a little orange sign pops up, reminding me to drive in a straight line. And when I was on the motorway and a second lane opened up to the right, which I wanted to take, the car blocked the steering wheel slightly to let me know I shouldn't leave my route. From then on, I was very wary of how I was driving, whether any light or sign would appear to warn me, and I was getting nervous about making the car—Silver, we called her Silver—not like my driving. Crazy, huh?! 😕 For a while, Silver was actually making me doubt my decisions, my way of driving perfectly fine (My dad taught me how to drive at the age of 12, and I have driven in Germany, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and Portugal). I was second-guessing myself until I became aware of the crazy situation: The car is like an adult telling a child what to do, advising them to be careful, and interfering physically with the kid's actions when they think they might be in danger, even though the child is in tune with their instincts, being aware of the risks and dangers around, and making sound decisions. A complete no-go at APTB! 😈 Having distracting signs popping up made me nervous and not focused on the road for seconds, which could have made it more likely for me to create an accident! The same applies to adults telling kids 'be careful,' 'danger,' 'stop,' 'you're about to fall,' 'let me take over,' 'you don't know,' etc. Too much of this and not letting the child set their boundaries will lead to the kid second-guessing their decisions. Studies show that this leds more more accidents! I've gotten used to all the flashes and signs warning me, and I can ignore them, but maybe I will ask Alex to deactivate these settings 😉 Yeah, I'll get rid of this authority that thinks it knows best because I know better... because I'm part of the real world 😏 Stay updated and sign up to the newsletter www.aplacetobe.me

I just finished our weekly marketing/branding call with my team: 4 women brainstorming and working towards an outstanding business that offers our members the BEST environment for the whole family, but above all the ultimate learning opportunities for our children. Something new I have decided for APTB is the following: You already know that we won't be offering any classes in the beginning and that the kids will take over the structure and schedules for the Blocks bit by bit. What I also said is that we'll have containers available with different kinds of materials in it: tables, chairs, paper, books, a computer, tools, musical instruments etc. However, today I have made the decision to provide empty containers WITH NOTHING INSIDE 😱 It will be like a blank canvas for the kids and Partners and give the optimal opportunity to go back to the state of just Being (A place to BE), spend our time in nature, getting to know the other people around, and then at some point, kids will ask for things they want and need, like tables, chairs, paper, a book about a specific topic, maybe some tools and material to build something. I don't know what. And that's the beauty about it 😇 A story I told my team to make my point clear is the following: I heard of this Russian unschooling group of kids of different ages who spent their days in the forest among themselves, no adults, no tools or materials available. They started bringing stuff from home that they needed to build things and they created their own environment learning along the way. 2 other mantras I keep telling myself have reinforced my decision: 1. Less is more 2. Do the opposite of what the system would do. Call me crazy and leave my list, if you don't agree or call me crazy and come along on this incredible journey 😊

Sunday at 10am EST time, I'll be on the Bitcoin Daily Show, a 2 hour live podcast. The audience can ask questions so if you'd like to listen in or raise a question 👇https://x.com/i/spaces/1ynJOywnlzOKR

Was that you who bought us a circular saw? 🫵 Thank you 💥 We'll put it to good use building A Place To Be 🌳🌲🪵🪚 If you want to support us, here's what else we need: 📚📋🏓🐔 🔦 https://geyser.fund/project/decentralisedworldschoolinghubmadeira

I ripped my diplomas to pieces 💥💥💥 https://youtu.be/cHii0WNF6oQ?feature=shared

Proudly representing APTB & Madeira in the first SAT nostr:npub1jr8sgwrpuk66n9evk76jnfd6wxept4k3uv2vwjw42fhvzvl3mdes38wwnw in Epoch V 4/20 😎 🧢 nostr:npub1s830j54v0c2rl8mxr43a59c8rhj7ucrh4836a2rrs2vvz0snjsws4g2dsf @blinkbtc 👕 nostr:npub1vty986f4v8h8m42yhrp2d5j59lpkppvpcmpzcdvarpcsccesas4sqhuaza

Meet Jacob nostr:npub1jr8sgwrpuk66n9evk76jnfd6wxept4k3uv2vwjw42fhvzvl3mdes38wwnw a hiking-loving APTB member. We met Jacob on the Bitcoin Atlantis conference in Madeira in March 2024 and we green-pilled (turned him into an unschooler) him within a couple of days. This year he, his wife and 2 kids will be moving from Scotland to Madeira to be part of APTB. In this podcast he explains what sold him so quickly on unschooling, what he'll be doing at APTB and his journey. https://youtu.be/yYSLDZWshKs?feature=shared

This goes out to all the Bitcoiners who still send their kids to school: You show the government your middle finger saying 'You're not going to control MY money! I'm not letting you choose what you think it's worth or devalue it! Money should be decentralised and it works best like this.' But at the same time you give your kids into the government's schooling system where they control, manipulate, abuse, indoctrinate your kids with nonesence that enslaves them into the fiat world. Why don't also show schools the middle finger saying 'You're not going to control MY children! I'm not letting you choose what you think she's worth or devalue her! Education should be decentralised and it works best like this?

I received a reply to my email about school being like a life sentence in prison that contains some powerful messages and I would like you to read them too: Hi, Sylvia I enjoy reading Your newsletters :) Regarding your comparison of the school/school system to a prison/sentence From my school experience and almost 10 years of homeschooling my children, I can say that the school system approach stays with a person for long or even forever. Maybe even more so in the one who fits well into the school system( easy learning, good grades, being good in all subjects without looking for their strengths and passions) than for those who flunk the system, barely pass subjects that do not interest them, and have a life outside school. This is my experience of good fitting into the school system. The process of de-schooling of myself is a ploughing ground for me. Despite so many years of homeschooling my children, this school system approach still lingers in me and I sometimes fund it for my children unfortunately. It is almost impossible for me to unschool instead of homeschool. Not only because of Polish school law, but also because my mostly good experience with school. Some kind of paradox I think ;) I have freedom to do different but choose to do the same as I was schooled. Please, continue Your work :) It is important for people to know, that there are other options than school system, or if they have to put kids to school, they can use it as a help but not the deciding factor to raise Your kids well. I appreciate messages like this very much. It shows that we're all just humans doing our best. I think whether you decide to send you kids to school, homeschool, unschool or do anything in between, the most important things are: 1. Looking within and unraveling the layers of conditioning 2. Giving our children as much unconditional love as we can 3. Finding what works for your family What do YOU think and what is your experience? Stay updated and sign up to our newsletter today! www.aplacetobe.me

Hey Plebbles, On Saturday, I graduated from a white to a blue belt in BJJ 😎 I must admit that it feels good but I can also see the relation to a school's grade system as a motivation to do better and keep going. I suppose the difference is that I made the choice to practice BJJ, nobody sends me there 4 times a week, I do it because I like it... I'd go every day if I could 😏 Those days will come once I've set up a tatami area at APTB 😀 Anyway, a teenager there who also got a new belt was very upset and when I asked a friend of mine what's up with him, he said 'His mom prohibited him to go to BJJ classes because he's not doing well at school.' This triggered me and I said 'F...g schools!' Although I know it's not the school who denied him his passion... SUPPORT STRENGTHS, NOT WEAKNESSES I went on a 5min rant saying to my friend 'Never put school before your children!' and so on. My friend told me about his 5 year old son who will be starting school this year and when he tried to sit him down to teach him something, the boy wasn't interested and didn't want to do it so he left him alone and didn't try again. He could see what I was talking about... He's concerned about sending him to school but knows that when you want to take your kid out of the system, social services come knocking at your door. Therefore I told him that the important thing is to know that the system is effed up and even though his son will have to go through it, he mustn't be afraid of bad grades and should always remain on his son's side. After this conversation I realized that it's almost like his son will be serving a 10+ year prison sentence that he will just have to endure and make the best out of. But it can turn into a life sentence because if he gets caught up in the system, the conditioning received during this time, will be the driving force in the next decades, unless he undoes the damage. You can take the prisoner out of jail but it's not that easy to take prison out of the person. What are your thoughts on this? Stay updated about and sign up to our newsletter today! www.aplacetobe.me

#ProofOfWalk in Madeira today

Our second SATurday Bitcoin Walk. Looking fly in nostr:npub1vty986f4v8h8m42yhrp2d5j59lpkppvpcmpzcdvarpcsccesas4sqhuaza gear ⚙️

@BitcoinAtlantis we started collecting funds to buy various items for the kids at APTB, like musical instruments, microscopes, books, camping equipment etc. Here's what we've got so far 🎸🩹🔦 https://geyser.fund/project/decentralisedworldschoolinghubmadeira/rewards