Master Talks
Were you a free bird who roamed the neighborhood or the city on your own in your childhood? Or were you mostly homebound within the line of sight or reach of parents? Lenore Skenazy, cofounder and president Let Grow, an organization dedicated to normalizing childhood independence, says that the kids’ world and parents’ world have been increasingly merging into one in recent years. Ms. Skenazy argues that the fears that drive this behavior are largely unfounded. She claims that this has created a crisis of anxiety in both children and parents. With wit and humor, she argues that letting our kids be more “free range” is beneficial for everyone.
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for treating creativity as we treat literacy. He claims that our current education system is squandering the potential of children by not appropriately nurturing creativity.
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald has a very compelling message for us. Dr. Fitzgerald explains why inadequate “language nutrition,” the meaningful interaction between caregivers and children, for children under three years of age is the key determinant for educational success and for many life outcomes.
An important addition to the Nature vs. Nurture debate. This short explainer video on epigenetics explains why identical twins Lucky Lyle and Troubled Tim end up with totally different personalities. Is it environment or genetics? Or perhaps both?
Irene Greaves shares a simple and yet profound idea: the power of intentionally teaching our kids how to love. Since relationships are the bedrock of a lasting education, how can we succeed without the skills needed to truly love?
Our ego can be both a boon and a curse. Craig Manning, an Adjunct Professor of Performance Psychology, explains how it is the nature of our ego to limit us and hurt us by goading us to seek approval and by focusing our mind excessively on outcomes. Prof. Manning urges us to build mental strength through mind control and to consciously focus more on tasks than on outcomes.
In this inspiring talk, High School Physics Teacher, Dr. Danny Doucette, makes a compelling case for how current science education is a missed opportunity. He explains why science education is super critical for humanity and shows us how it can be improved.