Educating for Humanity: Rethinking the Purposes of Education

The promise and necessity of working toward 'a world for all' is a viable aspiration for education at a time when the worldwide crises in social justice, peace, democracy, and ecological integrity have become the defining issues of our times. Ample evidence from many schools today, and dating back throughout the last century, proves that the purpose of educating young people of character, compassion, purpose, and commitment is integral with the mastery of intellectual skills and life competencies. Self and school subjects develop interdependently. But, as the saying goes, 'if you don't know where you're going, you'll probably get someplace else'. Educational policy directions over the last twenty years have veered far away from the important work of educating for humanity. This book makes a powerful appeal to revisit educational purpose in light of what is most fundamental and important to human beings everywhere. The authors address timely issues such as high stakes testing, school choice, and privatization of education in looking beyond these measures to new approaches to educational excellence.