Interviews with school leaders and scholars—plus other resources—to provide insight on how culture shapes the character and commitments of students
Sociologist David Sikkink on Character Formation at Alternative-Pedagogy Schools
In this full-length interview, sociologist David Sikkink discusses six unconventional high schools: a Friends school, a Montessori school, a Waldorf school, an IB school, a New Tech school, and a Democratic school. We talk about:
• The surprising amount of autonomy—and even authority—given to students in these settings
• How students in alternative-pedagogy schools engage with their communities
• Why many of these schools are strongly critical of popular culture
Sociologist Jeffrey Dill on Character Formation in Homeschooling Families
In this full-length interview, sociologist Jeffrey Dill addresses issues like these:
• The broad diversity that exists among homeschoolers, from religious beliefs to motivations for choosing this lifestyle
• What it means to understand homeschooling as an “oppositional culture”
• How homeschoolers use employment and technology to augment student experiences
Education Researcher Richard Fournier on Character Formation at Rural Public Schools
In this full-length interview and accompanying transcript, education researcher Richard Fournier addresses issues like these:
• How teachers strive to impart a sense of global citizenship within a homogeneous community
• What it’s like to teach your former classmates’ kids
• The caution—but sense of obligation—some rural educators feel about weighing in on moral issues
Formation in the Trenches: Melinda Mahand
Academic Dean Melinda Mahand explains how a little book by John Milton inspired the vision for character formation at Franklin Classical School. Ancient texts—like the Bible and the chivalric code—serve as sources for Franklin’s definition of what virtue is and how to live it out.
Sociologist Patricia Maloney on Character Formation at Charter Schools
In this full-length interview and accompanying transcript, sociologist Patricia Maloney addresses issues like these:
• The vast differences between charter schools and how they seek to form character
• Why a relational approach to education can be a double-edged sword
• The careful dance of teaching cultural capital
Scholars on Schools: Interview with Jack Wertheimer on Jewish Day Schools
In this short clip, sociologist Jack Wertheimer talks with veteran educator Angus McBeath about the religious underpinnings and everyday practice of restorative justice and community service in Jewish day high schools.
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