How Do We Change?

Note: Zoe’s on vacation this week, so this is a repost that was originally posted 6/30/08.
Artist and changemaker Chris Jordan asks several questions in his fascinating presentation at the TED conference. Through his powerful photographs of human behavior and mass consumption, Jordan attempts to make our unconscious societal choices conscious so that we can change [...]

Educating the Heart: We Must Create Schools of Conscience

Since I’ve been writing a lot about what education is for (such as here and here), here’s another perspective, published in May in Educational Leadership.
Author Charles Haynes argues that education’s highest aim should be to “create moral and civic habits of the heart,” and his essay is compelling. Here are some excerpts:
“At a time when [...]

Telling the Ecological and Economic Truth

In an interview in this month’s issue of Ode Magazine, Lester Brown, founder of the WorldWatch Institute refers to Oystein Dahle, a former vice-president of Exxon in Norway, to whom he attributes this quote:
“Socialism collapsed because it did not allow the market to tell the economic truth and capitalism may collapse because it does not [...]

Education Must Be the Key to Creating a Better World

Recently, I’ve been writing essays and speaking about this question: What is education for?. I’ve just read an essay, published almost two years ago, by British educator Susan Bassnett. It seems Britain, like the U.S., faces the same current challenges in schooling, and at least some are questioning the direction and approach of reform.
Bassnett writes:
“Education [...]

Humane Education Fits, Whatever the Subject

I write and speak often about how humane education can infuse all core subjects in school. Most of the time I talk about social studies, math and science. In this article about efforts at a Costa Rican university to bring humane issues into the foreign language program (in this case, English), we see a wonderful [...]

Teaching Our Children Common Sense Should Be…Common Sense

After running up our local mountain, my husband suggested we stop at our co-op to get some cereal. Since I didn’t know when we’d be back in town, I decided to stock up on other things as well, including two bottles of wine. The cashier was eighteen and legally can’t ring up wine so she [...]

Adam Baldwin Has It Wrong: Teaching for Global Citizenship Is Essential to Good Education

Actor Adam Baldwin recently wrote a scathing criticism of education for global citizenship and sustainability.
It’s worth analyzing Baldwin’s arguments because recently the concepts that humane education covers and its general approach have come under fire, even if the authors of the critiques are not specifically using the term humane education. Baldwin calls the preparation [...]

Paul Hawken’s Amazing Commencement Speech

Paul Hawken has given one of the most brilliant speeches I’ve ever read, a commencement address to the graduating class of the University of Portland. You can read it here.
Every once in awhile, a speech is so true and right that there is nothing to do but spread the word about it. I’ve been writing [...]

Claire Russell: 14-Year-Old Humane Educator

I had the privilege of mentoring a young friend of mine, Claire Russell, on her 8th grade project. At Claire’s school, all 8th graders complete a project of their choice and present it to the entire school community at the end of the school year. Most of the kids learn a new skill or make [...]

The Story of Stuff Helps Us Envision New & Better Systems

The New York Times recently had an article about the growing use of the video The Story of Stuff in schools, and the controversy that sometimes surrounds it. The short, animated film provides an introduction to the impact of our stuff on the environment, and it’s a great way to introduce the effects of consumer [...]