Those of us working to change the world for the better are accustomed to viewing websites, reading blogs and articles from our favorite media and watching films and YouTube videos that fuel our motivation and effort toward action. We learn something new about a problem in the world, and we want to teach others about it.

We hire teachers who specialize in specific subjects to teach our secondary school students. We don’t expect language arts teachers to teach physics, and we don’t expect math teachers to teach social studies.

With a subject as broad as humane education, which covers human rights, environmental preservation, and animal protection, as well as issues of culture such as media, economic globalization, social psychology, and so much more, the task of the humane educator is considerable. How can we possible be expert enough in these many interrelated subjects to teach about them accurately? We certainly cannot gain such expertise just from visits to our preferred blogs or by relying on a few specific media sources.

This is why our M.Ed. and certificate programs in humane education are two years long. We must commit to learning thoroughly, reading widely, viewing broadly, and thinking deeply for a lifetime in order to be a true humane educator.

With that said, humane educators ask questions rather than provide answers. They invite and inspire their students to be lifelong learners and to delve into the critical subjects of our time with passion and commitment so that together we may come up with solutions that work for all.

~ Zoe

Filed under: humane education Tagged: | expertise, Human Education Certificate Program, humane education, knowledge, lifelong learning, Master of Education in Humane Education, teaching