Role 15People & Care

Education & Skills

Recommended holders

2–3

Load rating

Season

School year primary; year-round for adult skills training

About this role

The education role serves two distinct populations: children who need formal schooling, and adults who need continuous skills training. Both functions are essential to long-term health.

For children: the collective's homeschool cooperative is a genuine multi-grade educational program serving 15–25 school-age children — a real school, with curriculum, assessment, and accountability to state homeschooling laws.

For adults: the skills training function prevents the we-conomy from becoming brittle. When knowledge is siloed in single role-holders, the departure of one person creates a knowledge crisis. Systematic cross-training distributes knowledge and builds redundancy.

Key processes

Homeschool cooperative structure

One or two lead teachers with formal education background, supported by domain experts from other roles. Core curriculum: reading and writing (daily), mathematics (daily), science (integrated), history (project-based), arts and music (weekly), physical education.

State homeschooling compliance

Laws vary by state. In Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, requirements range from simple notification to annual assessment. Know your state's law and comply fully.

The homestead as classroom

Fractions learned while adjusting a canning recipe stick differently than fractions from a worksheet. Write lesson plans that connect the garden, barn, workshop, and kitchen to core academic objectives.

Adult skills training program

Rotate monthly workshops on core homestead skills: fermentation, chainsaw safety, solar maintenance, first aid, animal health, soil testing, seed saving, cheesemaking. Track which adults have which skills against the role map.

Critical warnings

Comply with state homeschooling law. Failure can result in truancy proceedings.

Do not neglect academic fundamentals in favor of experiential learning. Both are essential.

Connects directly to

Childcare & Nurturing Health & Medicine Farming Crops Governance & Planning

Good supplement pairings

Childcare & Nurturing (natural overlap); Mediation & Counseling; Culture, Morale & Entertainment

Key insight

Also serves adults — the skills training function is what prevents single-point-of-failure in every other role.