Have you had recurring dreams about school? Were they pleasant or disturbing?
Personally, I always liked school. But I don’t think I ever had a good dream about school.
I read an article recently that summarized a survey of people who have had recurring dreams about school. I thought the results would be interesting to my EdOpt subscribers.
128 adults reported recurring dreams about being back in school — typically unpleasant anxiety dreams rather than neutral or positive ones.
Nearly all respondents rated their dreams as unpleasant, often involving anxiety, panic, embarrassment, shame, confusion, or dread. None described their dreams as genuinely pleasant.
Typical dream themes:
- Missing classes and unprepared for exams: The most frequent theme was suddenly realizing they missed an entire class and now faced a final exam they weren’t ready for.
- Being lost in the school: Many dreams involve wandering hallways, unable to find the correct classroom, triggering panic about tardiness or failure.
- Returning to school as an adult: A notable number of people dreamed they were forced back into school as adults, sometimes at the wrong level, surrounded by much younger classmates.
- Locker and schedule problems: Some variations involved being unable to open a locker or not having the right materials or schedule.
Dreams commonly occur years — even decades after leaving school. Respondents ranged in age widely (from about 20 up to their late 70s), and for many the dreams remained stable in content and emotional intensity over time.
Interpretation & Reflection
- The author does not offer a formal psychological theory (e.g., Freud or Jung) of why these dreams are so prevalent but suggests it’s “sad” that conventional schooling might leave a lifelong imprint of stress or discomfort on people’s minds.
- He ends with a reflective question about whether an educational approach could be devised that would leave people with good dreams instead of bad ones.
The article was written by Peter Gray, Ph.D., a psychologist, researcher, and writer best known for his work on child development, play, and self-directed learning. He is a long-time contributor to Psychology Today, where he writes the popular blog “Freedom to Learn,” focusing on how children learn naturally through play, curiosity, and autonomy rather than formal instruction.
Sad indeed. Isn’t it fascinating how much stress and anxiety from school stays with you for years? Even for those of us who liked school.
Something to consider as you educate your own children.
-Jody
Jody Underwood, Ph.D.
President, Education Options
Test EdOpt’s New AI Assistant
We’ve launched a beta version of our AI Assistant. We’d like you to test it. The more people test it, the better it will be.
The Assistant knows New Hampshire’s education landscape inside and out, and is available 24/7 to answer your questions and help you explore what’s possible for your family.
The Assistant will ask clarifying questions if it needs more details, search for relevant information, and give you clear next steps. It only shares information from EdOpt’s provider directory, New Hampshire’s RSA database, and trusted sources. It won’t make up answers or guess.
Just visit https://chatbot.edopt.org/beta and start a conversation.
What can the Assistant help you with?
- Find schools and programs near you.
- Understand Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs).
- Navigate NH homeschool requirements.
- Learn about all the different education options available to you in NH.
- Look up NH education laws and bills.
Try to stump it. Ask tough questions. Tell it when something doesn’t make sense or seems wrong.
Help us build it
Head to https://chatbot.edopt.org/beta and give it a try. We’ll learn a lot from your anonymous interactions. If you’d like, when you’re done, you can email [email protected] to tell us:
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- What would make it more helpful?
Test it out today at https://chatbot.edopt.org/beta
—Jody Underwood, for The EdOpt Team
P.S. Even though it’s in beta, the Assistant can still help you find real answers and real options for your family. Don’t hold back — use it for your actual or hypothetical questions, and let us know how it goes.
Spring Fairs
Our first Fair this spring will be in Manchester! EdOpt is partnering with Children’s Scholarship Fund for this one. Saturday March 21, from 11-2pm. We’ll have a DJ and a food truck, and lots of education providers across the range of options. EdOpt will have a table to help you navigate your education paths. For more info go here. Education Providers can register at http://bit.ly/NHSchoolFair26.
The Candia Fair will be Monday, May 4, from 5-7pm. It’ll be in the same place as last year, the Candia Congregational Church, 1 South Road, in Candia. Providers and attendees can register at https://edopt.org/event/candia-fair-2026/.
Goffstown Fair is still setting a date and location. We’re working on other fairs as well. Let us know if you want to organize one in your area!
Let your friends know about these fairs. Word of mouth is the best way to advertise. Follow us and share our events and posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Media Appearances
Learn more about EdOpt through our media appearances — recorded interviews and presentations. Some are videos, and some are audio from radio interviews.
Please share them with your friends. Help us spread the word that you have options.
EdOpt’s Goals
EdOpt’s aim is to help families understand all their education options, from non-traditional (homeschooling, homeschool co-ops, microschools) to traditional (charter schools, private schools, tech centers, dual enrollment, learn everywhere). Our website lists the education providers options around the state that we know about (please let us know if we’re missing any!) so you can investigate the ones that you’re interested in. EdOpt also provides guidance to help you understand your options. Set up a FREE Education Options consultation today.
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