I thought it was enough that I was homeschooling my daughter—until I discovered unschooling. Unschooling was a revolutionary concept to me, and until I read about it extensively, interviewed unschoolers, and worked alongside them as a volunteer, I was very skeptical. Then, after I thought unschooling itself was the answer I sought—and it largely still is—I discovered humane education. Suddenly, something resonated within my bones; this was home. This was what I’d been looking for.

Humane education is just what it sounds like. It’s a way of learning that addresses the problems we face as a society and how we can grow to become the solvers of these issues ourselves. It’s centered around four main components—providing accurate information about the issues we face as a global community; fostering creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking; instilling respect, reverence, and responsibility in people; and offering lots of positive choices people can use to help improve their world and themselves.

It’s about being kind. It’s about treating our fellow human beings and fellow sentient creatures all around us with respect and care. It’s about living sustainably, peacefully, and ethically. It’s about the MOGO concept. The MOGO concept, created by the Institute for Humane Education’s founder, Zoe Weil, stands for “Most Good, Least Harm.” Weil has even written a very detailed, easy-to-follow and information-packed book with the same title about the subject.

As the website proclaims, “Humane education may well be the most revolutionary and effective effort that we as a society can undertake to create a peaceful and just world.”

This blogger concurs! But how do I get started? After all, I only stumbled on the site because one of my co-bloggers at the Institute for Democratic Education in America’s website is a part of the humane education movement. I bought a copy of the MOGO book and have been devouring it rapidly, taking notes, making outlines in my journal, and examining my life choices alongside my family and friends. That’s the first step, for sure.

I’m also hoping to really get into the whole idea with some of the classes the institute offers. While they have a lengthy degree program that teachers can take (which sounds awesome, though I’m not sure it’s for me), they have several distance programs that I’m very interested in. The three programs—A Better World, A Meaningful Life; Raising a Humane Child; and Teaching for a Positive Future—all sound like perfect resources for parents and educators alike. Each course is affordable and comes with a textbook, study guide, questions, online forum, instructor access and more. I’m eagerly anticipating the next summer course when I’ll be able to jump in with both feet and learn more about humane education.

In the meantime, I’m dedicated to living as humanely as possible and living by example—letting my life be my message. And that’s also at the heart of humane education; after all, how could we possibly teach our children rather than how we act ourselves?