In this engaging discussion, Zach Lahn, co-founder of the learner-driven Wonder School in Wichita, shares his insights on education reform. He critiques the factory-model schooling system, arguing for a shift towards learner-driven methods that cultivate creativity and independence. Lahn highlights the importance of character development and personalized learning experiences. The conversation also explores a day in the life of a Wonder Leaner, showcasing innovative educational practices that inspire children to find their true calling while developing essential life skills.
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insights INSIGHT
Traditional Schooling Model
Schools primarily focus on direct instruction, with teachers lecturing and students passively absorbing information.
This model lacks hands-on learning and student ownership, hindering engagement and agency.
insights INSIGHT
Parent Priorities vs. School Systems
Parents prioritize character development, agency, and real-world skills over academic achievements.
Traditional schools, based on compliance and control, fail to meet these parental expectations.
insights INSIGHT
Origins of Public Education
Public education originated from the Prussian model, designed to create obedient soldiers and factory workers.
This outdated model, emphasizing compliance and rote memorization, ill-prepares students for today's dynamic world.
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Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Zach Lahn discuss the Wonder School, a Socratic-based education system in Wichita, Kansas. They delve into the value of learner-driven education, the origins of the American school system as a means to create obedient factory workers, and the true role of schools in shaping a child’s character. They also walk through a day in the life of a Wonder Leaner, the curriculum designed to help inspire these students toward their true calling, and exactly why this unconventional approach might be well worth your consideration as a parent.
Zach Lahn is the co-founder of Wonder, a learner-driven school in Wichita, Kansas, with the mission of helping young people find their calling and preparing them to change the world. His background in business has been as a founder of a search fund focused on acquiring and building small to medium companies. Prior to founding Wonder, Zach managed U.S. Congressional and Senatorial campaigns and raised funds for startup companies and nonprofit organizations. He now spends nearly all of his time at school with his six kids and with his wife, building a regenerative farm on his family’s ancestral homestead in Iowa.
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