Health and Education

David and I both knew that the end was near. It's raining in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the kind of cold rain that sings like a siren, seducing and inviting one to withdraw from the light, airy, cathedral of the mind, to descend into the sweet, watery depths of the soul. He and I were sitting under a tarp, shelter from the rain, huddling around the small, smoky fire that served to dissolve the boundary between us. It was David's 100th day in our wilderness therapy program, each of the previous days stretching through time, falling through space until they collected into a large pool, which seemed to be the totality of his young life. Each of these days, in recollection, seemed to be a journey of sorts through all the kingdoms of possible human experience: the outer darkness of parental betrayal, the scented oasis of joy, the citadel of teenage power and the open road of freedom. Yet, on this 100th day, here we were in the most unexpected of domains, the grave...

Progressive schools are scary. They are a bit like deciding to take a   road trip   but instead of going directly from Point A to Point   B,   you decide to take your own route. When kids get to decide the route, parents bite their lip and wonder: "Is this wise? Will my kid end up lost? If I just give him/her the keys to his/her own education and a vehicle (the school), won't the   freedom   go to his/her head? How   will s /he   turn   out?" The good news is, this isn't a new experiment. There has been much  research  in the past thirty years that shows a majority of students turn out  smarter, more adaptable, and happier  than their public school counterparts.  They learn to take their own roads and develop the  essential skills  that often can't be formed in a public school setting.  Here are five that make the biggest difference. Autonomy Toddlers have amazing autonomy.  They explo...