I Learn from Children Book Launch and Panel

Former Principal Kate Turley welcomed the panel (left to right): Ian Frazier, Scott Moran, Afi Yellow-Duke ’07, Jonathan Silin, Judith Foster

Celebrating the New Hardcover Edition I LEARN FROM CHILDREN THEN AND NOW

Much has changed in the past 70 years, but the core of City and Country School has not, as seen by the lively panel convened to celebrate the release of the new hardcover edition of I Learn from Children. Over 130 City and Country School parents, alumni, alumni parents, students, teachers, staff, friends, and community members gathered at The Center on West 13th Street on December 5 to celebrate the work and legacy of Caroline Pratt, C&C’s founder and a pioneer of the progressive education movement. As Scott Moran, C&C’s Principal, described it, “It was wonderful to see everyone come together for this event. I saw alumni from across the decades, former and current teachers, fellow educators, and current students. As one alumni parent put it, it was like ‘old home night.’ I really had a sense of the community coming together and reflecting on their experiences at C&C.”

Following warm welcomes by Scott and former C&C Principal Kate Turley (1999–2017), the panel kicked off its exploration of I Learn from Children and Pratt’s

educational legacy. The engaging discussion of the book’s enduring impact was moderated by journalist and humorist Ian Frazier, with panelists including C&C alumni parent Judith Foster, an artist, early childhood educator, and former principal of The Neighborhood School (PS 363); C&C Principal and parent Scott Moran; Jonathan Silin, fellow, Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto, and former editor-in-chief of Occasional Paper Series, Bank Street College; and C&C alumna Afi Yellow-Duke ’07, associate producer of WNYC’s podcast Death, Sex & Money.

One of Pratt’s core beliefs—and a tenet of progressive education— was reaffirmed numerous times as the panelists discussed their experiences: that children are naturally curious, and it is the

Left to right: Kate Turley, Barry Munger, and Matthew Payne

“HELPING STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO LEARN, ENGAGING THEIR CURIOSITY, EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM—THESE GOALS ARE AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS THEY WERE IN PRATT'S TIME, MAYBE EVEN MORE SO.”

job of educators to preserve this innate curiosity. This idea is still a guiding principle at C&C, and it was wonderful to hear how Pratt’s philosophy and intellectual legacy live on through the School, the experiences of its students and alumni, and the work of those who have built upon the teaching innovations of Pratt and her successors.

The event also spoke to what Caroline Pratt hoped for when she wrote the book—that readers and educators would see her program as dynamic and decidedly not set in stone. As we heard from the panelists, Pratt’s fundamental principles feel as relevant to our ever-evolving world as they were in the 1940s. students and educators whose lives have been forever changed by her vision and ideas.”

“She wrote the book over 80 years ago,” Scott reflected, “and yet her insights and approaches feel wholly modern and applicable to the world we live in today. Helping students learn how to learn, engaging their curiosity, empowering them to make sense of the world around them—these goals are as important now as they were in Pratt’s time, maybe even more so. She was a true innovator, and her legacy lives on in our School—and above all, in the many generations of Thank you to everyone who came to the event, and to all who helped bring this new edition to life—especially Barry Munger and former C&C Director of Communications Matthew Payne. The hardcover is now available for sale at C&C in the Communications Office (email Christina Hultholm, Director of Communications, christinah@ cityandcountry.org), at the School Shoppe, and on Amazon. The audiobook remains available as a free download on Amazon and Audible.

Following the panel discussion, guests eagerly lined up to be among the first to purchase the beautiful new edition, the fifth English-language publication of I Learn from Children and the first hardcover since the 1948 original. C&C Trustee and alumni parent Barry Munger oversaw its production and was instrumental in organizing this event. “One thing that often gets lost when we talk about I Learn from Children is what a pleasure it is to read. It’s really a beautifullywritten work,” he said. “I hope that a future educator will find it in a library at their school, pick it up, and be inspired. That’s the dream.”