Lynn Stoddard

(Zephyr Press, 1992)

During his twenty-six years as a public school principal, Lynn Stoddard came to a realization that “it is impossible to reform education within the prevailing frame of reference, which is characterized by a mental fixation on curriculum development instead of human development” (p. 6). Rebelling against standardization, competition, testing, and control, Stoddard developed a different set of values at his school: He came to believe that the mission of education is to nurture the “three dimensions of human greatness” — personal identity (individual character and talent, sense of self-worth), interaction (compassion, empathy, respect), and inquiry (passion for learning and understanding, problem-solving skills). He and his colleagues developed various learner-centered activities and worked closely with parents to implement them in their school.

Redesigning Education is a plainspoken, straightforward account of how Stoddard and his community renewed their school’s sense of purpose. Although they draw support from recent work in cognitive science and multiple intelligence theory, their approach is refreshingly free of jargon and uncluttered by the faddish language of the “restructuring” literature. Yet despite its simplicity, Stoddard’s vision is revolutionary; he calls for nothing less than a complete shift in the mission of public education and a new appreciation for the inherent powers of the growing, learning child. “Education for greatness is in harmony with human nature,” he says. “People want to grow. With this view, teaching is not an act of aggressive indoctrination” but a warm mentoring relationship in an atmosphere of trust and caring. Indeed, Stoddard shows us how Nel Nodding’s “challenge to care in schools” can actually be implemented in public education.

The Foundation for Educational Renewal
Box 328, Brandon, VT 05733-0328
1-800-639-4122
http://www.great-ideas.org
info@great-ideas.org