What’s real and who/what matters: Sentientism in schools

What’s real and who/what matters: Sentientism in schools

Author: Ethical Schools March 5, 2024 Duration: 49:16
We speak with Jamie Woodhouse, UK educator and thought leader on sentientism.  An ethical worldview informed by evidence, reason, and compassion, sentientism prioritizes the well-being of humans and animals other than human. We discuss strategies for introducing sentientism in the classroom, the questions students ask, and ways teachers can incorporate sentientism in the curriculum. Overview 00:00-00:32 Intros 00:33-02:09 Definition of  Sentientism 02:09-05:11 History of Sentientism 05:11-7:59 Do we know who/what are sentient? 7:59-10:39 Are plants sentient? 10:39-11:55 Does sentientism take future generations into account? 11:55-15:23 Sentientism and veganism 15:23-21:00 Relationship of sentientism to hunting and fishing cultures 21:00-22:39 Sentientism and helping sentient beings to thrive 22:39-27:02 Sentientism and climate change 27:02-30:24 What should teachers know about sentientism? 30:24-35:09 Are children naturally compassionate or does that need to be taught? 35:09-39:14 Questions students ask 39:14-41:20 How students can incorporate sentientism into their actions 41:20-43:34 Sentientism as a “movement” 43:34- Outro Transcript

Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
Mobile Creativity Labs: Scaling STEAM Across India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
We speak with Dr. David Penberg and Adhirath Sethi about Agastya, a unique educational ecosystem serving students and teachers in 22 Indian states. Agastya has a hub-and-spokes design, with an elaborate 172-acre campus o…
Resilience: Preparing Children to Weather Traumatic Events [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:41
We speak with Dr. Tovah P. Klein, professor of psychology at Barnard College and the director of the Center for Toddler Development, about her book, “Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncert…
Marygrove School: Place- and project-based teaching and learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
We speak with Dr. Elizabeth Birr Moje, dean and professor at the Marsal Family School of Education, University of Michigan. Dr. Moje discusses Detroit’s School at Marygrove, a university-school partnership serving childr…
Honesty: What it means and how to teach it [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:21
We talk with Sarah Stitzlein, author of "Teaching honesty in a populist era: Emphasizing truth in the education of citizens." Dr. Stitzlein, a professor of education and affiliate professor of philosophy at the Universit…
Creating democratic learning environments: Educators in conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
We speak with Dr. Linda F. Nathan and Jonathan Mendonca, two co-editors of the recently published book, "Building Democratic Schools and Learning Environments: A Global Perspective," an anthology of accounts of creating…
Successful Teaching Careers: Empowering Non-Traditional Candidates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
We speak with Dr. Kathryn Spence, Director of the School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University, about actualizing a focus on social justice and equity. She discusses strategies for broadening the pipeline of tea…
NYC high school surveys: Disparities in student stress and support [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:01
The authors of a recent Chalkbeat analysis discuss the Department of education’s 2023 high school survey, which shows girls, especially girls of color, have much higher stress levels, and feel less supported, than boys.…