I believe the fundamental role of education is to prepare young people to be contributing members of their communities. Education should be highly adaptive to individuals and their communities. Education should be holistic and support the four fundamental elements of a person – mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical. More than ever young people need to be strong and capable in all elements of their whole-self, for they will face many challenges in our rapidly changing world.

Education should  support the development of both independence and interdependence. Young people need to be self-sufficient and resilient. Education should provide them with a “tool-kit” that will help them navigate all life’s adventures. They need to learn to be generous offerers of help and gracious acceptors of it.

Education is life-long and never ending. Education should encourage young people to be curious about the world around them and question sources of knowledge. Young people should be taught to question ways of knowing and how they came to be.   I believe there is education that can be purchased from a university and there is education that no amount of money can buy. The latter is earned through relationships with others and the world around us.Education should include placed-based and experiential learning.

Most importantly, education should guide young people to a way of walking in the world that is both brave and gentle.