I just finished reading “Walking on Water” by Derrick Jensen. I highly recommend it for anyone working in or looking to change the educational system.

An excerpt:
“I’ve heard it said that within our deathly culture, the most revolutionary thing anyone can do is follow one’s heart. I would add that once you’ve begun to do that–to follow your own heart–the most moral and revolutionary thing you can do is help others find their hearts, to find themselves. It’s much easier than it seems.

Time is short. It’s short for our planet–the planet that is our home–that is being killed while we stand by. And it is even shorter for all of those students whose lives are slipping away from them with every awful tick of the clock on the classroom wall.

There is much word to be done. What are you waiting for? It’s time to begin.”
page 216 Walking on Water

I’ve been thinking about the same things lately and over the past few months I’ve been writing my own little manifesto which you can see below. It was designed to remind me of the things that are important with my work, it is so easy to get sidetracked with other distractions (fears, inconsequential details, jealousy, etc.) I think I should write it on my body somewhere. If you respond to it, feel free to use it yourself. (I added number 12 after reading the quote above. It seemed an appropriate finish).