Parents often have so many questions when it comes to choosing a school, and it's easy to get confused about what is important and what isn't. These days, kids are usually measured by report cards and behavior standard benchmarks that rarely reflect who they are or how they're actually growing. But underneath all of that is the real question we should be asking as parents: What is school actually for? And, How will we know if it's fulfilling that purpose?

To speak to this, I bought on Michael Carberry, the visionary founder the Whole Life Learning Center in Austin, which the school my daughter Della attends. I did a HUGE amount of research to find this school and believe whole heartedly in everything they're doing.

We dig into how children truly learn — not through worksheets or test prep, but through everyday life. We explore what school is really teaching beneath the surface: how to feel (or repress feelings), how to relate, how to trust themselves (or not), how to struggle, and how to stay curious (or give up and comply).

Michael breaks down why traditional schooling often prioritizes compliance over self-awareness, and how that shapes who kids believe they are. As dads, this is something we can't afford to ignore, because the adults around our children model everything from emotional regulation to resilience.

If you're trying to understand what actually matters in a school environment, or how everyday experiences shape your child's sense of self, this episode brings clarity and offers a whole new lens on what education can be.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• How to think about the purpose of school

• How identity forms through everyday play, challenge, and emotional moments

• What school may really be teaching our children beneath the surface

• Why emotional intelligence drives lifelong learning even more than academics

• What to look for when choosing a school environment

• How dads can support curiosity, confidence, and self-trust at home

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Being Dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

YouTube @dadicatedjoe

Michael Carberry is the Founder of the Whole Life Learning Center in Austin, Texas. As an educational visionary and innovator, he has developed a holistic pedagogy focused on environmental sustainability, social justice, personal growth and empowerment. When he's not at the Whole Life Learning Center, Michael can be found spending quality time with his family, playing music, taking care of the animals, working out, or turning the compost.

Learn more about Whole Life Learning Center: https://www.wholelifelearningcenter.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholelifelearning/

Get 15% off Lovebird cereal with code DADICATED15: https://lovebirdfoods.com/?ref=sujibyed