Starting with Whitehead: Raising Children to Thrive in Treacherous Times
As we seek guidance on these issues, we are led to the work of Alfred North Whitehead, who brilliantly perceived that the process of change itself is fundamental to our existence, how we experience ourselves and others, and how we interact with the world around us. In his classic work, The Aims of Education, he elaborated a three-stage process of learning, involving romance, precision and generalization. His vision of education calls for exploring real experiences rather than packing scraps of information into passive students.
This book offers examples of learning events at each stage that illustrate how adults can help children thrive in a world of change, based on the author’s experience working with children as a parent, teacher, principal and policy maker. Drawing on seminal psychological and educational research, De Jonghe sets these events in the context of a vigorous theoretical foundation and proposes specific strategies for success. Her recommendations have relevance for parents, teachers, principals, and policy makers.
About the Author
Lynn Sargent De Jonghe served as the founding Head of East Bay Sierra School, which merged to form Prospect Sierra School, and become one of the preeminent schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to this, Lynn spent fifteen years in public education administering federal funds to innovative programs, advocating for project learning as an alternative to textbooks, and pushing for integration in Massachusetts. She received a BA from Harvard University and an MS in Library Science from Simmons College before completing her PhD in Education at Cornell University. Throughout her career, she has pushed for challenging educational programs that encourage all students to pursue learning in depth and to use problem solving skills, collaborative learning, and exploration of values in an integrated curriculum. In 2022 Lynn’s book, Starting with Whitehead: Raising Children to Thrive in Treacherous Times, was published by Rowman & Littlefield. Her most recent book, Living Whitehead’s Vision: The Adventure of Adult Learning, was published by Process Century Press in 2026.
More Books
