Vijay Shah - The Limitless Potential of Learners

<p><em>Vijay&nbsp;is currently the &nbsp;co-founder, director, and a Socratic Guide at The Humanist Academy.&nbsp; Has &nbsp;two Master's degrees, one in from&nbsp;The University of Chicago (Divinity &nbsp;School), and another in School Leadership and Administration from &nbsp;National Louis University. His professional experience includes teaching&nbsp;high &nbsp;school history and math teacher in inner-city Chicago, he's also been &nbsp;an assistant principal, principal, an adjunct professor (at Loyola &nbsp;University), and he worked briefly with National Geographic &nbsp;leading &nbsp;student expedition&nbsp;trips across the world.&nbsp;One of his most formative experiences was when he spent two years in India studying philosophy and literature at&nbsp;an &nbsp;alternative residential institution near Mumbai. Most importantly &nbsp;though, he's the loving father of 3 adorable kids, all 5 and under, has a &nbsp;wonderful wife, amazing parents, and a very close knit extended family &nbsp;that have been his backbone and support throughout his life.</em></p> <p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p> <p>00:22 What’s your favorite thing about working with Young Learners?</p> <p>07:02 Vijay’s origin story on how he decided to do something different.</p> <p>17:14 Advice to Frustrated and Afraid Parents</p> <p>23:51 All About the Humanist Academy</p> <p>27:00 How do you deal with religion?</p> <p>31:15 How do you train guides?</p> <p>35:02 How has your school been affected by COVID?</p> <p>43:25 The Business Fair</p> <p>44:58 Metaphor that describes conventional schooling versus what you do.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Quotes:</strong></p> <p>“Let's take out two things. Industrialized education and behaviorism. This idea that children need adults to jam information into their incompetent, incapable &nbsp;empty vessels. They are full of wisdom, knowledge, and genius, and we need to allow them to, to thrive.”</p> <p>"Every human being, I believe, is in this world to find their place and to learn about the world and themselv