Dear AERO Reader,
The AERO conference is next month and that is coming fast. Again, the lineup and content for the conference is stellar!
We have about 100 registrants from 25 states, 5 Canadian provinces and 8 countries. We’re still hoping to get to 300. Because of the AERO mission of the Education Revolution, our is a difficult task. Members of our network include Montessori and Waldorf education, homeschooling, democratic education, unschooling, higher education alternatives, online alternatives and seminars, some charter schools, some magnet schools, and self-directed education. AERO is the only organization we know of that gets the spectrum of learner-centered alternatives communicating with each other. We feel that this is the only way there will ultimately be an Education Revolution. As the phrase has echoed down the ages, “United we stand, divided we fall!”
In our country right now, many people are discouraged with the denigration of this concept. Dominated by high level racism and xenophobia, it is hard to stick steadfastly to unification and diversity. But we are doing so.
As Teddy Roosevelt once said
,
“The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer. There are many who feel a kind of twisted pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt.”
Leonard Bernstein said
:
“Though I can’t prove it, deep in my heart I know that every person is born with the love of learning. Without exception. Every infant studies its toes and fingers, and a child’s discovery of his or her voice must be one of the most extraordinary of life’s moments… Imagine an infant lying in its cradle, discovering its voice, purring and murmuring MMM to itself.”
As we grow up and learn to be cynical, Bernstein argues, we gradually stifle this inherent love of learning, turn off our curiosity, and become calcified.”
So, come to participate in the celebration of the universality of learner-centered education, the empowerment of all students, the empowerment of all teachers, the empowerment of all parents. You won’t find only people from your discipline, people who agree with you. But that’s the point. We all agree that children are natural learners, therefore that education should be learner-centered. We come at it from different angles and need to learn from each other.
We hope we’ll see you there. Be a part of the Revolution!
Yours,
Jerry and the AERO Team
You can register for the conference
here
.
