Jessica, Thank you for this. Powerful. I love how you not only point to what is going on and possible solutions, but also how you try and live it. I was a teacher for many years and now my partner and I created Love University, loveuvt.org. It is a place where we run dialogues, we have therapeutic services (non hierarchal) and try and help people see their connection rather than isolation. I have been working on a manuscript for many years. It is really about how culture and education are deeply connected and that if we really want to change our dysfunctional society, we must look at our children differently.

I taught at a small holistic school where the kids interests were brought into the curriculum. This was powerful. I also brought dialogue into our classroom discussion where they learned how to see other perspectives and talk thoughtfully to each other even when they had very different beliefs. Because of that, they learned how to not hold on so tight to their own beliefs. It showed me that if we trust our children, listened to them, and taught skills around dialogue, beautiful change can happen.

I love how you shared about your experience as a teacher and the way you saw your students and their potential and helped bring that potential out. That in itself shows the power of education when we can see our students and help bring out what already lies within them. Anyway, I was so emporwered by what you shared and want to point to a few things that I am trying to do.