Humane Education and the Solutionary Way - A Conversation with Zoe Weil and Julie Meltzer

A more humane education feels very necessary right now. Our
planet and its inhabitants all over the world seem to be crying
out for it.  Humane Educators Zoe Weil and Rae Sikora
created IHE In 1996 to do precisely this. And so it is a huge
pleasure this week to be able to welcome Zoe, and her colleague
Julie Meltzer, from the Institute onto the podcast.


Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of the Institute for
Humane Education (IHE) and is considered a pioneer in the
comprehensive humane education movement. Zoe created IHE’s M.Ed.,
M.A., and graduate certificate programs, as well as
IHE’s Solutionary Framework, which guides teachers in
bringing solutionary thinking and action to their
students.


 Zoe is the author of eight books including Amazon #1
New Release in Social Philosophy and Popular Applied
Psychology, The Solutionary Way: Transform Your Life, Your
Community, and the World for the Better with a Foreword by
Jane Goodall (2024), Amazon #1 Best Seller in the
Philosophy and Social Aspects of Education, The World
Becomes What We Teach: Educating a Generation of
Solutionaries (2021/2016), Nautilus Silver Medal
winner, Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a
Better World and Meaningful Life (2009), The Power and
Promise of Humane Education (2004), and Above All, Be
Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times (2003).


She has also written books for young people, including Moonbeam
Gold Medal winner, Claude and Medea: The Hellburn
Dogs (2023/2007), about 12-year-old activists inspired by
their teacher to right wrongs where they find them, and So,
You Love Animals: An Action-Packed, Fun-Filled Book to Help Kids
Help Animals (1994).


Julie Meltzer, Ph.D., is a self-described “pragmatic visionary”
who is committed to creating schools that truly help students
prepare to successfully meet their futures. She is a tireless
advocate for literacy, justice and equity which she sees as
integrally related. Julie supports teachers and administrators to
develop collective efficacy to teach their students how to become
changemakers. She agrees with Zoe Weil that our best hope for the
planet is to educate a generation of solutionaries. After
extensive experience in education including as a teacher, teacher
education faculty member, district administrator, consultant,
researcher, program evaluator, and project lead, to her current
role as Director of K-12 and Teacher Education for IHE. Julie is
also a published author, sought-after speaker and
editor/reviewer. When not focused on teaching and learning, Julie
enjoys hiking, dancing, writing poetry, reading international
women’s and children’s literature, traveling, and working for
social and environmental justice.


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