There is little research about making instruction at school meaningful. This is surprising given that ample research suggests that many students do not find school a meaningful place, as documented by decline in interest during middle school, the frequency of boredom at school and decline in search for meaning among high school students. This…

We contend that the pedagogy of permaculture offers radical possibilities. In this article, we share our philosophical underpinnings of the pedagogy of permaculture using a case study of an international service learning project. We offer (1) a literature review creating a case for the use of permaculture with definitions for the ethics and…

Excellent schools strive to develop a comprehensive and integrative improvement process for students and their families that integrate best practices of positive school culture, climate, and social and emotional learning; character development skills, enhanced academic achievement strategies, and positive parent engagement. Character.org's…

They are everywhere: young people who refuse the narrow label of "student." Of course, they take care of schoolwork, but they also look outside of themselves and see a world full of need--and they want to help. This article features short profiles of adolescents--students, athletes, musicians, community activists, inventors, scientists, and…

Social responsibility is a value orientation, rooted in democratic relationships with others and moral principles of care and justice, that motivates certain civic actions. Given its relevance for building stronger relationships and communities, the development of social responsibility within individuals should be a more concerted focus for…