Olivia Wahl
06 April 2026
In part one of my S5E32 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Benjamin Freud, Head of Upper School at Green School Bali, challenges conventional beliefs about education. This conversation explores the philosophy of education, questioning whether traditional approaches truly foster learning. We discuss the future of education, focusing on sustainable living and environmental education as pathways to deeper understanding and innovation. We cover: → Why "learning through doing" is not the same as learning and doing, and why that distinction matters for instructional strategies and lesson planning → How low engagement and disengaged students aren't behavior problems but design problems → Why global citizenship is one of the most dangerous phrases in a school mission statement → The difference between regenerative design, sustainability, and what it means for inspiring students and thriving schools → The case for philosophy in K–12 as a tool for student participation, critical thought, and whole child development → What biomimicry reveals about inclusive classrooms, anti-bias teaching, and a pro-kid mindset that actually scales beyond the jungle Some Episode Mentions: Regenerative Education: Quality Emerges Through Community VoicesBruno LatourA Thousand Years of Nonlinear History by Manuel De Landa The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker Coconut Thinking The Bird Lab Chapters: 0:00 Introduction — Meet Dr. Benjamin Freud 1:45 From Paris to Bali: Ben's arc into education 3:30 Bruno Latour and the power of assemblages 5:00 Green School Bali — what makes it different 7:00 Learning & doing (not learning through doing) 9:00 Why skills-based education can be dangerous 11:00 Preparing students for an unknown future 13:00 The sixth mass extinction — education's missing priority 15:00 AI, outputs are dead — it's all about inputs now 18:00 The bio collective and what "we" really means 19:30 The Bird Lab — biomimicry for regenerative design 22:00 Why inclusion always involves exclusion 24:30 Lightning round begins 25:00 Why "global citizenship" is a dangerous phrase 26:30 Stop teaching world history — teach global history 27:30 More philosophy in schools 28:30 History should be taught backward 29:30 What's coming in Part 2: rubrics and assessment 🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content. 📧 Connect with me as a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in. 🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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