Education can't save us.
We have to save education.
~ Dr. Bettina Love
Education creates, and perpetuates, culture. It is where we pass down to young people what we value. We can choose the kind of culture we want to create. We can choose regenerative culture, and to do this, we must design education in ways that bring us alive.
Experimentation in whole-system educational design is desperately needed. We know the problems associated with the industrial model of education. We hear a lot about the dream of what education could be. There is not one solution, but we can experiment with educational design in ways that bring us all alive.
Vitality-centered education is living and learning together in ways that take care of and foster life. Change begins with adults actually doing what we hope for in our young people. Instead of projecting cultural problems onto youth and trying to fix and manage them, it is up to the adults to embody and live life giving principles. When young people immerse in an educational culture where this is happening, they live into the principles being practiced in ways that honor their own personhood and take care of our collective, humans and the Earth.
We face great challenges as a species and as a planet. It is time to wake up more fully to the vitality within and around us, and to live in ways that take care of and awaken life in others. If we want more creativity, curiosity, compassion, and clarity in our communities- let us have the strength to live what we hope for in our youth.
Educational design is a critical leverage point in creating the life giving culture we long for.
Springhouse: A Living Example
Vitality cannot be defined, but we still know its presence. We know when we feel alive, and this does not mean happy. We feel our lives in all kinds of ways. Vitality-centered education is about coming to know deeply the gift of this life and taking care of it.
Springhouse is an example of what is possible when vitality is at the center of educational design. In 2013, from the rich community and landscape of Floyd, Virginia, and the care of those who deeply longed for a more vital and creative culture, Springhouse emerged. Now with a vibrant and devoted community to tend to it, Springhouse thrives as an exemplar in vitality-centered education.
Springhouse envisions a regenerative culture where all people are connected to the vitality within themselves, their community, and the Earth. Our mission is to awaken a vitality-centered education that empowers people to courageously respond to the world's emerging needs. Springhouse offers a day school program for adolescents, coming of age programs for pre-teens and teens, adult development programs that strengthen our communities, and a network of support for vitality-centered practitioners globally.
At Springhouse, we have seen what happens when vitality is placed at the center of the design. Awakening vitality within ourselves, and within the community, strengthens our capacity to courageously respond to the world's emerging needs. In a place where vitality is at the center, the love is palpable. Creativity, resiliency, and connection (to name a few) are more readily accessible. At Springhouse, learners of all ages actively engage in experiences oriented around vitality, like building a 22-foot sailboat or organizing community conversations on race. All involved know that becoming more vibrant and courageous people is what the world needs. With a vitality-centered educational design, success ultimately is determined by a learner’s (no matter the age) continued commitment to respecting and cultivating life in themselves, their communities, and with regard to the Earth.
Experimentation in whole-system educational design is desperately needed. We know the problems associated with the industrial model of education. We hear a lot about the dream of what education could be. There is not one solution, but we can experiment with educational design in ways that bring us all alive.
Vitality-centered education is living and learning together in ways that take care of and foster life. Change begins with adults actually doing what we hope for in our young people. Instead of projecting cultural problems onto youth and trying to fix and manage them, it is up to the adults to embody and live life giving principles. When young people immerse in an educational culture where this is happening, they live into the principles being practiced in ways that honor their own personhood and take care of our collective, humans and the Earth.
We face great challenges as a species and as a planet. It is time to wake up more fully to the vitality within and around us, and to live in ways that take care of and awaken life in others. If we want more creativity, curiosity, compassion, and clarity in our communities- let us have the strength to live what we hope for in our youth.
Educational design is a critical leverage point in creating the life giving culture we long for.
Springhouse: A Living Example
Vitality cannot be defined, but we still know its presence. We know when we feel alive, and this does not mean happy. We feel our lives in all kinds of ways. Vitality-centered education is about coming to know deeply the gift of this life and taking care of it.
Springhouse is an example of what is possible when vitality is at the center of educational design. In 2013, from the rich community and landscape of Floyd, Virginia, and the care of those who deeply longed for a more vital and creative culture, Springhouse emerged. Now with a vibrant and devoted community to tend to it, Springhouse thrives as an exemplar in vitality-centered education.
Springhouse envisions a regenerative culture where all people are connected to the vitality within themselves, their community, and the Earth. Our mission is to awaken a vitality-centered education that empowers people to courageously respond to the world's emerging needs. Springhouse offers a day school program for adolescents, coming of age programs for pre-teens and teens, adult development programs that strengthen our communities, and a network of support for vitality-centered practitioners globally.
At Springhouse, we have seen what happens when vitality is placed at the center of the design. Awakening vitality within ourselves, and within the community, strengthens our capacity to courageously respond to the world's emerging needs. In a place where vitality is at the center, the love is palpable. Creativity, resiliency, and connection (to name a few) are more readily accessible. At Springhouse, learners of all ages actively engage in experiences oriented around vitality, like building a 22-foot sailboat or organizing community conversations on race. All involved know that becoming more vibrant and courageous people is what the world needs. With a vitality-centered educational design, success ultimately is determined by a learner’s (no matter the age) continued commitment to respecting and cultivating life in themselves, their communities, and with regard to the Earth.
Foundational Resources
- Sustainable Education: Re-envisioning Learning and Change, Stephen Sterling
- We Want to do More than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom, Dr. Bettina Love
- Schooled by Democracy, Scene On Radio
- Education Regeneration Reflecting on the Skeleton Woman Story, Dr. Jenny Finn
- Know Yourself: Change Your World, Parker Palmer
Further Resources
- Continuing the Conversation: Recovering the Sacred in Education, Dr. Jenny Fin
- Seed and Spark, Sam Chaltain
- The Power to Transform: Leadership That Brings Learning and Schooling to Life, Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall
- Bringing Schools Back to Life by Meg Wheatley
- How to escape education's death valley | Sir Ken Robinson
- Sir Ken Robinson Compares Human Organisations to Organisms: Education Is A Dynamic System
- Experience And Education, John Dewey
- We Make the Road by Walking Conversations on Education and Social Change, Paulo Friere and Myles Horton
Springhouse Examples
- Relearn Festival- Jenny Finn and Springhouse Learners
- Creative Bravery Festival- with Jenny and Springhouse Learners
- Learner Centered Leaders Invest Time in Developing Deep Connected Relationships
- Capitalizing on the Natural Structures of Freedom by Jenny Finn
- Springhouse Culture Tender Skills and Tasks
- Vitality-Centered Educational Model
- Springhouse Media Links (This link includes many stories about Springhouse that have been in the media)
Reflection questions
- Do you embody what you hope for in our culture? If so, how? If not, why not?
- Are there particular gifts that the place or the community you are in holds, like fertile soil, that can help what you are called to bring forth grow?
- After viewing the Springhouse examples shared here, do you have any questions?
- What inspires you about Springhouse?
- Are there Springhouse practices you could see trying in your community? If so, why? Some that you couldn't? If so why?
- What questions do you have for Springhouse after reviewing the resources and examples?
Quick Links
Regenerative Culture
Take care of vulnerability
Cultivate personhood
Build beloved community
Respect the wisdom of the Earth
Love and serve others.
Regenerative Culture
Take care of vulnerability
Cultivate personhood
Build beloved community
Respect the wisdom of the Earth
Love and serve others.