Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of eleven books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations. Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated, and he has been described in Time magazine as "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores."

More info available at: http://www.alfiekohn.org

Erica Goldson shocked her school and then the internet by criticizing our education system in her valedictorian speech. Click the play button above or download the interview below to hear about Erica's experiences as a student and her unconventional ideas on improving education.

UPDATE: Since the interview, Erica and I discovered that we share a deep love of learning through discussion and open-minded debate, so we've joined forces in bringing more voices and ears to the conversation about education.

We will now be taking turns posting interviews with passionate educators, parents, and students, so be sure to subscribe for updates and join us on Facebook to follow the bouncing around of ideas that will ensue on a weekly basis.