Title: Some central principles of Humanistic Education
Author: Mario Rinvolucri
Last saved by: Mary
Company: Pilgrims Ltd

Short Article 1

Some central principles of Humanistic Education

Simon Marshall, DOS, Pilgrims Teacher Training Division, UK

[ Editorial note:  I think it safe to say that most of the Pilgrims trainer network and author group would be able to sign up to 95% of the principles set out by Simon below.
Almost any of us would be able to produce a slightly different list from Simon's,
but the differences, I think, would be of emphasis rather than manifesting strong ideological divergences.] 

-	Learners are human beings and should be respected as such
-	Language learning has an affective (emotional) as well as a cognitive (analytical/knowledge based) side
-	Learning is a holistic process, involving mind, body and heart
-	The desire to learn is an inborn human quality
-	Different people have different ways of learning, all of which need to be acknowledged, valued and nurtured
-	The learner is at the the core of the syllabus
-	For learning to be meaningful and long lasting it needs to be relevant to the learner
-	Cooperative learning is productive learning
-	The teacher should encourage learner autonomy
-	The teacher is a facilitator, enabler and animator rather than simply an instructor
-	The teacher is co-participant in the learning process
-	Healthy group dynamics allow learning to thrive.
-	Mistakes are inevitable stepping stones to learning. Indeed, they should be regarded as "a gift to the class"
-	The teacher should not do for the students what the students can do for themselves
-	Learner participation breeds motivation, confidence and success
-	Individuals and groups learn things in every lesson that the teacher does not consciously teach
-	Teaching and learning are a joyful, life-affirming processes