S2 Highlight: Shifting from Industry to Well-Being w/ Dr. Susan Engel

We are joined by Dr. Susan Engel, professor of developmental psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Dr. Engel has authored a variety of publications and books, including The End of the Rainbow: How Educating for Happiness (not money) Would Transform Our Schools and A School of Our Own: The Story of the First Student-Run High School and a New Vision for American Education, among many more - including her latest book, The Children You Teach: Using a Developmental Framework in the Classroom. Furthermore, Dr. Engel co-founded the Hayground School, a non-profit school focused on experiential learning and the teachings of John Dewey.

In our conversation, we talk about so many important topics:

Why is “next step” and industry-prep (e.g. “Preparing students for tomorrow’s industries.”) potentially a problem?

Why is well-being imperative to learning? How does this contradict those who focus so much on rigor?

How can we convince educators and administrators that progressive policies help students learn?

How can we enact this research without eliminating standardized testing?

How can testing (if shifted to other realms) actually help us in progressive education?

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