Education Reform:
A Simple Blueprint for Human-Friendly Education

Introduction to Our Series on Education Reform

Everyone talks about the need for education reform. Data consistently confirms the United States is at the bottom of all industrialized countries.^1,2 The need for reform is undeniable.

Yet, no one seems to know how to make effective reform happen. (Hint: throwing another assessment at students is not the answer.)

This problem was actually solved well over 100 years ago…

How One Woman Revolutionized Education

It was 1896, in the slums of Italy. As Italy’s first female physician, she was an outcast. Unwanted and rejected by society, she was assigned to work with unwanted and rejected children.

She soon taught children labeled as “uneducable” and “idiots” to surpass their “normal” peers on standardized tests. Those children were poverty-stricken rejects of society. But, they flourished under this woman’s care.

She went on to revolutionize education around the globe. She received three Nobel Peace Prize nominations. Her theories are still alive today, working on every inhabited continent, in every socio-economic setting.

One woman transformed the neediest “special education” children into students who surpassed their “normal” peers on standardized tests.

That woman was Maria Montessori. As a physician and anthropologist, her theories transcend all cultural and economic boundaries.

Her theories and methods have stood the test of time because they were based on human development.

Herein lies the crux of the problem in the United States…

Our Education System Is Completely Ignorant of Human Development!

This article series is based on COMPLETE HUMAN EDUCATION. When educating human beings, we must be mindful of how the complete human –the physical, emotional, intellectual, and even spiritual being— develops and functions… naturally. Until we embrace human-development in education, our reform efforts will NEVER be successful!

No amount of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) funding, “rigorous academic standards,” or assessments will ever be enough.

Education will remain an uphill battle… until we embrace complete human education!

Part I: A Simple Framework for Achieving Complete Human Education

This series will begin by exploring the three core problems with education in the United States. As stated above, the real problem is that our instructional approach does not match human development. But, within this problem, there are three specific areas where we can focus our attention.

I will then share the critical framework for accomplishing Complete Human Education. I call it the “Success Pyramid.” This framework is lightweight and offers plenty of room for a personal touch from educators.

Next, we’ll explore how the biology of the brain proves that the “Success Pyramid” is essential for achieving learning success. We’ll then explore how the Success Pyramid helps us solve the three core problems with education in the United States.

Finally, I will address how Complete Human Education supports Special Education.

In Part II…

In the second part of this series, I will dig deeper into specific examples for implementing the framework described in Part I, including: ideal instructional models, a political model to follow, and keys to effective instruction of reading, math, and skills.

Conclusion

This series will conclude with a simple matrix summarizing how to construct an ideal school system. The rationale behind all recommendations in this matrix are supported in the previous articles of this series.

This series continues with the next article, Three Core Problems with Education in the United States.

Education Reform: A Simple Blueprint for Human-Friendly Education

This article is from our full report on education reform. Portions of the report will be released on a weekly basis in article form (see the directory below).

However, to access the full report (in its entirety) now, sign-up in the black box on the right. 

Education Reform Article Directory:

1. Introduction to Education Reform: A Simple Blueprint for Human-Friendly Education
2. Three Core Problems with Education in the United States
3. The Success Pyramid: A Model of Effective & Efficient Learning 
4. The Brain Biology of Learning: Why the Success Pyramid Works 
5. Solutions for Core Problem #1 with Education in the United States 
   Solutions for Core Problem #2 with Education in the United States 
   Solutions for Core Problem #3 with Education in the United States
6. Special Education: It Doesn't Have to Be So Difficult - Part I of III
   Special Education: How to Solve & Prevent Learning Disabilities - Part II of III
   Special Education: The Brain Biology of ADHD & Autism - Part III of III
7. Ideal Instructional Models: Successful Examples of Complete Human Education
8. Finland: A Political Model of Education Reform
9. Why Common Core Is the Worst & BEST Thing to Happen to Education
10. The Simplest Leverage Points in Reading, Math, & Skills Instruction
11. Looking Forward: Advice from a Futurist
12. Conclusion: The Four Principles of Optimal Instruction
13. Summary: An Ideal School System

SPECIAL REPORT: To get the full series in one downloadable PDF, sign-up for the free report in the black box on this page.

Sources

¹ PISA scores: http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results.htm
² PIAAC scores: http://www.ets.org/s/research/30079/index.html