What if the purpose of school were purpose? | Ross Wehner | TEDxEdina

What if we designed school specifically to help children thrive? What if learning meant feeling and doing as well as thinking? What if school were the ultimate platform encouraging students to embark on the two great human journeys: the journey inside to discover one's gifts, and the journey outside to contribute? Ross Wehner is a writer, teacher, and social entrepreneur who is Founder of World Leadership School, which “partners with K12 schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders.” Ross also
co-founded the nonprofit TeachUNITED, which works to transform learning at rural schools around the world. Ross is guided by the question: how can K12 school become the ultimate platform for launching students into lives of purpose?

Ross began his career by working as a journalist in Chile and Peru

[keranskeckter]

This would be such an amazing approach to creating members of society that contribute in a way that is both important and fulfilling!

[gregtemple]

Terrific and revolutionary approach for our most valuable resource - our children. Purpose driven youth are the future leaders of the country and the world. Well done!

[donthegiese]

Brings back memories! Wish my school had these purpose-driven methods. It's never too late to change, right? Better late than never. Kudos to the forward-thinkers

[robertjoinersr]

I agree purpose is probably the most important thing a person can find in their lives. Would be incredible if this was the focus early on.

[UncleUnivers]

I'm not an educator but this talk made me wanna become one lol. I mean, imagine being part of a school that's all about helping kids thrive and live meaningful lives! I feel like that would add a lot of meaning to your own life as well

[GingerTeaAddict]

As a student who's dealt with a lot of anxiety and depression, I feel so very seen by this talk. I've always felt like school was a big part of the problem, with all the pressure and stress and focus on achievement over well-being. I'm glad people are starting to talk about how to change that.

[nextgendynasty]

This is a really interesting concept! Imagine the impact on mental health and student engagement if every school adopted this model... could make the type of difference that is desperately needed at the moment

[pierrept]

It's cool to think that purpose can be woven into everyday activities instead of being seen as this big huge thing we have to work towards

[vivianrylan]

Purpose-driven learning sounds like the future. Love the idea of focusing on what truly matters.

[TheBoldBazooka]

I'm gonna be honest, I was a little skeptical about all this "purpose" talk at first. But the more I listened, the more it just made sense. It's not about being soft or whatever, it's about thriving through real human development and that makes a lot of sense to me

[regissanford]

I agree that it's important to create safe and affirming curriculum for students, and I think purpose driven education creates the opportunity for communities to get involved with empowering students.

[joedoe]

How cool would it be if every kid got a roadmap towards something they really wanted to be? I think showing them at that age how you can achieve your goals by taking small steps would really help set people up for life

[bethdanster]

I don't know about y'all but I'm gonna start doing purpose mapping with my own kids at home. Never too early to start cultivating that sense of meaning and direction!

[Chatzapper]

The bit about his daughter not wanting to go to school was tough to hear and to think that our kids are facing even more pressure than we did is upsetting.

[ihavecoolthings]

There are so many good points about why this should be more widely adopted - I think the mental health crisis alone warrants it.

[briannestory]

That quote about the "light behind the eyes" of purpose-driven students...I felt that. I want every kid to have that kind of sparkle and excitement about learning and life.

[bonniehavel]

I've often thought this!! If we could hone in on a childs passion and interest and then cater to those things (as well as teaching them all the basics) plus getting in some socializing... I really agree it could make the school phase of our lives so much more valuable

[kanejsloane]

"The problem isn't stress, it's meaninglessness" - damn, that hit hard. I think that applies to a lot of life, not just school. We all need a sense of purpose to thrive.

[vtyJr]

I think purpose-driven education would be absolutely life-changing. World-changing, even.

[astridableman]

I never thought about how backwards mapping in curriculum design might be part of the problem, but it makes sense. If we start with the inner lives of kids and build from there, everything else will fall into place more naturally.