What is Hedge School?

A newsletter dedicated to reimagining learnedness.

Hedge Schools were secret illegal schools developed by the Irish in response to invasion. Their language, customs, and culture hung by a thread. Education used as a social and religious control tool drove the rebellious Irish to the land to keep the spirit of their Emerald Isle alive. Schools were set up in ditches, huts, under trees, anywhere, and everywhere. Why? Proud Bardic and oral traditions run deeply through Irish veins. Education is and was revered. By all classes of society. And not just any run of the mill education.

Communities demanded personalised curriculum. Nestle the classics amongst responses to the needs of our community. This honoured the original meaning of curriculum. For many of us, curriculum is what school did to us. I can speak to this deeply as a 20-year education veteran. But the original meaning of the word is 'running your own race'.

The Hedge School newsletter is designed to be the school on the side of the road. Ramshackle in appearance but situated in the moment. Just what you need. Perfect timing with a deep connection to place. You’ll feel us at the edge of new frontiers when you are in need of counsel, support and a place to be heard.

For this to take place, you are a required participant. Your voice. Your story. Your learning. I can only share my reality tunnel. Special guests will share theirs. But only you run your own race.

Come in, pull up a rock, and lean in. A story is about to start.

“I am not a teacher, I am an awakener.” Robert Frost

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Never miss an update.

Stay up-to-date

You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests.

To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.

Subscribe to Hedge School

A place for sudden education through contemplative inquiry and richer questions. Arrives in your inbox weekly at the same time.

People

Steve Brophy

@hedgeschool

Learner. Poet. Storyteller. Lover of deep questions and Conversational Alchemy. Always buried in a book.

Lara Foster

Lara is a web developer who enjoys leading folx toward their greatest joys through peak performance coaching. She has a passion for videography and editing catching sparks of humans in their element and showcasing them through digital media projects.