Part of Re:Form School, NYC

I will post more on the Re:Form School show this week (insanely busy these days). But in a line: the exhibition is incredible. And this piece is one of my favorites. Indeed.

Why have you chosen to participate in RE:FORM SCHOOL? The artists talk about why it’s time we rethink, reform and rebuild education. The photos from younger days are so great. Here’s mine: “I wish that was a little more obvious when you set foot in any school, all our schools across America. They’re for dreaming, so stop letting anything that gets in the way of that get in the way.”

Kids are so hilarious.

We believe that ALL AMERICANS should have EQUAL ACCESS to a HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, with no exceptions.

RE:FORM SCHOOL is a group art exhibition and event series, bringing together hundreds of artists in New York City to send a loud message that the time has come to fix our ailing Public Education System.

RE:FORM SCHOOL invites you to show your art in New York City alongside some of the most celebrated artists today. Art plays a pivotal role in creating cultural momentum, and this is your chance to get involved. RE:FORM SCHOOL invites you to join artists from across the nation who are joining the call for true reform of our public school educational system. There are four themes to the RE:FORM SCHOOL online contest – KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNITY, TEACHERS INSPIRE, and CREATIVITY & INNOVATION. Submit your work by September 30th.

RE:FORM SCHOOL will be open to the public, Saturday, October 9th, 2010 through Monday, October 11th, 2010 between the hours of 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and is located at 233 Mott Street, New York City, NY 10012.

McSweeney’s Internet Tendency: Today, August 26th, is Youth Literacy Day and you can help 826 writing centers continue to make a difference in the lives of over 22,000 students each year. Make a donation of $8.26 today by texting “WRITE” to 20222 or giving online here.

Download, Print, Post the Flyer

In October 2009, the Designers Accord convened over 100 progressive individuals from academic and professional institutions all over the world for two days of highly participatory discussion, planning and action around the topic of design education and sustainability. The main activity was small-group brainstorming focused on answering these questions:

via Core77.

The Third Teacher Book

The stack of books I need to read just keeps growing. I haven’t made a dent in awhile. So starting now until the end of summer I’m really going to get after it. The Third Teacher is first up. A project from Bruce Mau Design, it looks at designing today’s schools for tomorrow’s world and includes 79 ways design can transform learning and teaching. It’s a lovely book full of optimism and hope. From Let the sunshine in to Get eco-educated to Put the fun in fundamentals to Dream big and be brave, the efforts of committed individuals are indeed having positive impact. Now add to this list. 

Community Connections Section

Idea 34. Imagine like a child

2010 TED Prize Wish: “I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.”

Watch his talk at TED.com: Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.

Quite a TED performance. Personal. Political. Passionate. If we’re going to make lasting changes in our society, we HAVE TO directly challenge “conventional wisdom” and those powerful interests who want to keep things exactly as they are. Some of what comes out of a challenge like that is going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to come with ridicule. Probably some ruthless assaults from the “free-marketeers.” But to fix our ills, we’ve got to hit ‘em head on.