Design Considerations for a World of Educational Freedom

Once we obtain educational freedom, initally through tax credits and educational vouchers, and later (in fifty years) through the separation of school and state, we will have to think strategically about how to use that freedom to create a better world.

A first draft of this strategic planning, from my manuscript Whole Lives: The Creation of Conscious Culture Through Educational Innovation:

"The problem to be solved is thus

1. To create integrated cultures, based perhaps on a school-like educational experience, but supplemented by other cultural dimesions. The hypothesis is that, as with traditional tribal cultures, it will be possible to reduce many of the ills of modern society by means of a coherent cultural focus.

2. Yet unlike traditional tribal cultures, these consciously developed cultures/schools must, in at least some cases, prepare young people for high-level performance in contemporary society.

3. Also unlike traditional tribal cultures, these consciously developed cultures/schools must, to at least some degree, emphasize a concern for global well-being and the extension of mutual respect to expanding groups of people.

Because of the inherent chauvinism in virtually all traditional cultures, and because of the fundamental tribal character of humanity, this last feature will require particular design consideration."