The Inner Curriculum

This work by the pioneer of values-based education and his psychotherapist wife explains how to nourish well-being, resilience, emotional stability and self-leadership within an educational context. It is a book that everyone involved in education will want to read as it takes values and character-based education to a new level by incorporating spirituality in relation to our inner worlds of thoughts, feelings and emotions. The authors propose that 'all children need to understand what it means to be a complete human being; that our future depends on their ability to be humane and in relationship with the natural world. (p. 22) The first part of the book gives an overview of values-based education and the inner curriculum, while the second explains how to develop this practically within schools so as to create a harmonious ethos of relationships. It also draws on neurobiology, reflective practices and the internal family system (IFS) approach by building on the positive sides of human nature and bringing our various 'parts' together in self-leadership. The final chapter provides a very useful guide to organisations and activities – for further information, see www.valuesbasededucation.com. I hope that these ideas will be widely adopted as they are key to co-creating a peaceful and compassionate world and not just producers and consumers contributing to unsustainable economic growth.