Keynote Address

The (Progressive) Schools Our Children Deserve

We are living through a dark, reactionary period in American education, which means that it has never been more important to defend the theory and practice of progressive schooling. In his keynote address, Alfie Kohn explains how the constellation of approaches that share this label can promote the development of each child while simultaneously promoting a democratic society. Of course, progressive education must itself progress, evolving in a way that traditional approaches do not. To that end, Kohn offers a series of questions for educators and parents intended to help our schools move further in the direction of helping children to become good learners and good people.

Keynote Speaker: Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and social theory.  His nine books include PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE:  Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards" (1999), THE CASE AGAINST STANDARDIZED TESTING (2000), and, most recently, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WELL EDUCATED? And More Essays (2004).

Kohn was recently described by Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores." His criticisms of competition and rewards have helped to shape the thinking of educators -- as well as parents and managers -- across the country and abroad. Kohn has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including the "Today" show and two appearances on "Oprah."  He lectures widely at universities and to school faculties, parent groups, and corporations, as well as speaking at staff development seminars and keynoting national education conferences.

Among Kohn's other books are BEYOND DISCIPLINE: From Compliance to Community (ASCD, 1996), which he describes as "a modest attempt to overthrow the entire field of classroom management"; and NO CONTEST:The Case Against Competition (1986).  He lives (actually) in the Boston area and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.

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