Human Restoration Project (HRP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit which **aims to discuss and provide resources that illuminate, foster, and challenge traditional and progressive educational practices. It is of utmost importance that, when looking deeply into dense topics, we provide places for people to start (especially those who are not accustomed to a progressive view of education). Furthermore, it is paramount that we view progressive education not as a series of buzzwords or acronyms, but instead the bringing to light what we’ve all seemed to forget: our students, our educators - they are human beings. We intend to restore that lost humanity - having administrators, educators, and students remind themselves, and engage with, their purpose and dreams. HRP centers its work around four values statements. Each of these statements places systemic change at the forefront to create radically student-centered school systems. Each systemic structural change is outlined in detail in our Primer.
HRP focuses its attention on systems-based change in education through grassroots, teacher organized change. Despite decades of school reform (Race to the Top, No Child Left Behind, A Nation at Risk), only 40% of students are engaged in high school and less than half of students feel their learning is relevant. And, despite our focus on improving math and reading scores - stressing about test results - the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists state we're "100 seconds from doomsday." Our priorities in education have moved away from the obvious answer: we’re all human beings, we need to treat each other accordingly.
Our work is based on three levels of change-making: 1) informing about the need for progressive education; 2) guiding educators through materials and PD on how to implement this practice in their classroom; and 3) growing the movement through coalition building, networking, and grassroots advocacy.
We list each of our actions toward systemic change in detail on our Need page. Employees are encouraged to read fundamental texts of progressive pedagogy to understand our philosophy:
HRP was initially established in 2018 (LLC) with a podcast and a few free resources. Quickly, we (Chris McNutt & Nick Covington) saw the potential as a nonprofit, filing for full incorporation in 2020 and expanding the team. Most HRP employees are current/former educators seeking to radically change the classroom.