Honor The Children

"Education would be so much more effective if its purpose were to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they don't know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it."
-- Sir William Haley

What's New

"Not On the Test" song lyrics by Tom Chapin. What are some of the important things we aren't teaching when we teach for the test? A humorous look at a sad reality. (added 6/13/08)

"Searching For the Right Passage from Childhood and School" by Maurice Gibbons, PhD. Do we offer a relevant right of passage to our young adults? (added 6/2/08)
"The Subtle Texture of Cooperation" by David Lienhard, PhD. The importance of cooperation and generosity. (added 5/31/08)

"A Covenant For Honouring Children" by Raffi. Covenants and Principles by the internationally respected singer/songwriter and childrens' advocate. (added 5/6/08)

What would a family, a community, a school, or a society that truly applied this idea of honoring children, look like? In these pages, I intend to explore some of those ideas.

This web page is for those who seek to bring greater understanding and honor to the parenting, teaching and learning process. You are here because you care deeply about how we are raising our children. In its current form….is it healthy for them, is it healthy for society…..will it create adults who are willing and capable of solving any of this world’s pressing issues?

I hope to share with you some of the wise and thoughtful ideas that I have collected over many years. You will find essays, theories, research, proven real-world solutions and yes, even quotes, gathered for the sole purpose of helping you to explore the wide variety of perspectives and techniques in raising and educating children.

I have chosen to present the ideas and techniques of individuals who have applied their intellect to the questions of what makes for honorable and effective teaching and parenting. Many of these educators have experienced great success in teaching learners of all ages and abilities and in teaching our future teachers. I have also included thoughtful essays by individuals who speak to a greater wholeness in educating our children; they may not have taught hundreds or thousands, nor authored books nor taught seminars…nonetheless they speak with a wisdom we can all recognize.

The only common voice that these articles speak with is that of concern for the status quo. As a dear teacher friend of mine once put it: “walk into any grocery store and we can find 50 different ways to keep our hair clean, but we can find only one way to educate our children?” I don’t think so! I will attempt here, to share a wide variety of ways, big and small, that seek to develop the whole child and the whole educator.

I hope that you will visit and browse often. The content will be updated frequently!