"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead
We take inspiration from those who are leaders in the educational paradigm shift. Below are videos and books we recommend to parents.
Ron Berger
Ron Berger was a public school teacher and master carpenter in rural Massachusetts for over 25 years. His writing and speaking center on inspiring quality and character in students, specifically through project-based learning, original scientific and historical research, service learning, and the infusion of arts. He works with the national character education movement to embed character values into the core of academic work. At Running River we study and use his book, An Ethic of Excellence, in our work to inspire quality, beauty and mastery for the children and ourselves.
Ron Miller
Ron Miller is a teacher educator at Goddard College in Vermont and an historian and activist in holistic, progressive, and alternative education movements. Holistic education is a philosophy of education based on the premise that each person finds identity, meaning, and purpose in life through connections to the community, to the natural world, and to humanitarian values such as compassion and peace. Holistic education aims to call forth from people an intrinsic reverence for life and a passionate love of learning.
Sir Ken Robinson
"Imagination is the source of all human achievement."
Sir Ken Robinson is an educator, author, lecturer who speaks clearly and passionately about the need to customized and personalized education to the individual (as opposed to the traditional education of conformity). We need to educate the whole being to unlock and nurture the creative capacities in every child. Education has to feed the spirit and bring forth the passions of the child..what a child is good at. The world needs passionate people. Watch these you tube videos and ask yourself: what kind of education is my child receiving? Then visit the rest of our web site and find out what could be possible.
Alfie Kohn has written over 12 books about education,human nature,and parenting. We highly recommend Punished by Rewards; Unconditional Parenting, The Schools Our Children Deserve and The Brighter Side of Human Nature.
Dan Siegel
Dan's organization, Mindsight, provides a scientifically grounded, integrated view of human development for mental health practitioners, educators, organizational leaders, parents, and others to promote the growth of vibrant lives and healthy minds. He has created a collaborative journey to bring more kindness, compassion, and resilience into our world. Running River brings Dan's work into our Parent Forums, including: No Drama Discipline, The Whole Brained Child and Parenting from the Inside Out.