Transcriber: Capa Girl Reviewer: Fran Ontanaya
The most important thing is to establish an education
through which human beings learn once again
how to live with one another.
The most important thing is to establish an education
through which human beings learn once again
how to live with one another.
The author of this quote, Rudolf Steiner,
claimed that in the future no human being will be able to rest
if they know that another human being in the world is in pain.
How do we educate children now to accelerate this very powerful goal?
Teach subjects imaginatively and artistically
so that students are encouraged to think independently and creatively.
Teach so that students make heartfelt connections to subject material,
so that they love science, math and history.
Teach students to work together,
to forge meaningful and caring relationships with each other,
their school, their community and their world.
Why?
Because the world needs people who have heartfelt thinking.
Because we need people who feel connected to their community
and care about their community.
We need people who have the fortitude and the will
to actually to get out into the world and to do the good work.
I believe every teacher can accomplish this goal in every classroom.
Rather than animating computer screens,
let's encourage animated conversation in the classroom.
Rather than assign boring textbooks,
let's bring the past back to life through the art of telling his story
as well as her story.
Rather than teaching to and stressing over standardized tests,
let's activate deep critical thinking and problem solving.
(Applause)
Let's transform mainstream education so that every student engages
academically, artistically, physically and socially.
So here are two academic lessons: one math and one history.
How do we get fourth grade students to engage and be excited about fractions?
How do we get them to wrap their minds around a fractioned number,
a number less than one?
We teach fractions concretely and artistically.
So in mainstream workbooks you've probably seen how pizzas --
pizza slices are used to demonstrate fractions.
Well, if you really want to get your students' attention,
bake a whole pizza pie from scratch with them in the classroom.
Let them see the whole pizza and then devour it fractionally.
Abstract concepts made concrete.
Students completely immersed and bellies full.
Try teaching fractions through music.
So in my class, in grades one through three,
I taught my students to play flutes by ear.
But in fourth grade, I'll take musical notation
and time signature and relate those to fractions.
At first the students work individually
and try to relate these abstract dots on the page
to the music fingering they already know so well.
But to learn a new tune, as one whole class,
students must practise and help each other
listen to each other, problem solve
and get it together so they can actually learn this one new song.
Let's look at one history lesson from 7th grade.
But first who is the 7th grader?
12, 13-years-old entering puberty often aloof, particularly, towards adults.
Also maybe self-absorbed, but often vulnerable, looking for a peer group,
looking for a way to fit in.
These young adolescents need worthy role models
so imagine this, the classroom is silent, the lights go dim, the story begins.
Long ago in a 15th century rural French village
there lived a 12 year old girl who heard God tell her to leave her family,
leave her home and go save her country from English invaders.
She was so commited to her vision that she defied the church
and proclaimed that God spoke directly to her.
She defied gender norms and wore a suit of armor and commanded an army.
She rode with soldiers into battle and put herself in harms way
to spur on their courage, yet she, being personally against violence,
carried only a banner into battle, no weapons.
She ultimately gave her life.
She, Joan of Arc, was burned at the stake.
7th graders passionately relate to this biography.
Their thinking hearts are ignited to ask questions, to defy authority,
to act on their beliefs and do the good.
In sum, enable students to think with their hearts, to feel connected to each other
and to develop their will to change their world.
Thank you.
(Applause)