Addressing Education for Social Action

Molokai Bahá’í Community News Release

What is the purpose of education, really? That’s the question Dr. Mona Kiani, founder of Education With Purpose, will discuss in the next installment of the Global Citizenship Speaker Series at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 at the Molokai Public Library.

“Teachers are under colossal pressure to prepare students for standardized tests,” said Kiani, “but this can lead to a narrowed overall vision for the purpose of education. This leaves educators in an uphill battle trying to engage students when the learning doesn’t always feel fully relevant and meaningful to students’ lives.”

“Acquiring knowledge and developing critical thinking skills are imperative,” said Kiani, “but I think the future of the K-12 schooling system is destined for a much greater purpose. Educating for social action proposes a new model for education—an inquiry-based, student and community-centered approach—that elevates the objective of education beyond just acing the test and getting to college.”
Kiani, who lives on Oahu, is a former middle and high school mathematics teacher, teacher trainer, coach for administrators, and founder and CEO of Educate With Purpose. She is passionate about transforming the field of education with engaging, real-world learning experiences for students and the community that result in social action. She works with teachers and leaders worldwide, is invited to speak at international education conferences, and was the 2016 recipient of the National InspirED Changemaker Award given by Yale University.

Join us to see how this new purpose for education can revolutionize the Hawaiian education system. The presentation, sponsored by the Molokai Bahá’í Community in collaboration with the public library, will conclude with time for comments and questions. Light refreshments will be served. Dr. Kiani will join us via Zoom.