CWO - Chief Wonderer Officer

What does it mean to be educated? What is a good education? 

When my children, Chloe and Luke, were of schooling age, I decided to homeschool them. This of course caused this principal, teacher, mother (also driver, lunch lady and janitor) to really wrestle with these questions. And these questions have led me to some amazing discoveries, friendships (including finding my soulmate!) and thinkers/educators who have shaped my understanding and approach to education. Some of them include the following...in chronological order (and yes, written with some help from you know who). As you read about them, you will see the different shades of Wonder in them. 

A pioneering British educator whose philosophy emphasized the importance of integrating rich literature, nature, and living ideas into education, rather than rote memorization. Her foundational work, "Home Education," published in 1886, outlined her belief in the child's innate ability to learn and the role of education in fostering a love for knowledge. Her key ideas of education are captured in these pithy sayings - 

1. "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."

2. "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled."

3. "Children are born persons."

4. "We do not teach a child so much as we teach a child to teach himself."

5. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart."

An Italian Marxist theorist, philosopher, and political activist known for his influential ideas on culture, power, and education. He spent 11 years in prison and from there wrote his "Prison Notebooks," which explores the concept of hegemony and its implications for education and social change. Gramsci believed that education plays a crucial role in shaping consciousness and that creating a critical awareness among the working class is essential for transformative social action. Here are some notable quotes from Antonio Gramsci -

1. "All men are intellectuals, but not all men have in society the function of intellectuals."

2. "The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned."

3. "To tell the truth is to become an outcast."

4. "Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will."

5. "Hegemony is the process by which a ruling class seeks to gain the consent of those it rules."

A Brazilian educator and philosopher renowned for his transformative approach to education that emphasized critical thinking, dialogue, and social justice. His most prominent work, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," published in 1970, challenged traditional banking models of education and advocated for a participatory, problem-posing method that empowers learners to engage with their realities and change their circumstances. Freire's emphasis on dialogue, consciousness-raising, and the importance of context has had a profound impact on educators and movements for social change worldwide. 

1. "The 'banking' concept of education as an act of depositing, in which the students are the depositories and the teachers are the depositors, is not only a method of education; it is a form of oppression."

2. "Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality."

3. "No one can be authentically human while he prevents others from being so."

4. "Authentic education is not a transfer of knowledge, but a process of inquiry and reflection." 

An influential American author, feminist, and social activist whose work focused on the intersection of race, gender, and culture within education and society. Her book, "Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom," published in 1994, emphasizes the importance of an engaged pedagogy that encourages critical thinking, personal growth, and a sense of community among students. hooks advocated for a transformative educational experience that embraces diversity and encourages students to explore their identities and societal roles. Here are some of her notable quotes -

1. "Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through relationships – and the study of those relationships."

2. "Education is the practice of freedom, the means by which we learn to love."

3. "The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy."

4. "When teacher and students recognize they are responsible far creating a learning community together, learning is at its most meaningful and useful. In such a community, there is no failure...

We leave the classroom knowing that critical thinking empowers us."

An American author, educator, and activist known for his work in the field of education and spirituality. He is a prominent advocate for transformative education and emphasizes the importance of personal growth, community, and authentic teaching. His influential books, such as "The Courage to Teach," focus on the inner life of teachers and the role of education in fostering connection and understanding. Here are some notable quotes from Parker Palmer -

1. "Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher."

2. "We teach who we are."

3. "In a world that often feels like it is falling apart, we need to create spaces of hope and possibility."

4. "To create community, we must be willing to open ourselves to one another and to the larger world."

5. "Teaching is a daily act of courage—an act of lighting a torch of hope in the dark."