Getting back online

Its been several weeks since I wrote. I have been squirreled away in schools or working at my desk, doing as Kevin Carroll would say, "the lonely work."

As the last days of summer came to a close and the sun began to rise later and later, I found myself engrossed in finding my groove with the start of the new school years. As children hustled into classes, I too returned to schools, to refresh my information on Seattle and Greater Eastside schools. The first few weeks of October were spent in and out of schools with Admissions Directors and Heads of schools trying to get a deeper feel for each school.

With the visits for fall are almost done, I am turning my attention to new clients, many with young children, some with their first child who are awakening to the education they so desire. As I have embarked on consultations with new clients, I have taken an even harder look at the Art of Education process, refining it, touching it up, so it feels fresh, vibrant and responsive to the families I am working with.

In the midst of the last few weeks of activity, I took some time to talk to my dear friend Steve Miranda who writes the Re-educate blog. He launched Seattle Progressive Schools (SPS) earlier this year in an effort to connect people and communities interested in progressive education in the Seattle area. At this point, he is energizing the mission of SPS by interviewing people who are thinking and working on transforming education. I had the golden opportunity of conversing with him on topics close to his heart.

In the midst of reflecting on the history of education and the need to transform it, I captured the following series of statements as a way to return education to where it needs to be —

 I couldn't think of a better way to return to being online than to summarize for myself the central motivation of the Art of Education. So there we have it.