What people are saying…

“Joseph Pestana, in his inspiring and important study, The Inner Child, sets out to transform--carefully--the globe, one inner child at a time. Guided by his longstanding concern that children are increasingly restricted by the confines of traditional schooling and corporate culture, He sets out to propose a new way for children and schools (perhaps all of us), one inspired by holistic spiritual values and practices.

Drawing from a medley of philosophers and educational theorists, he proposes an alternative path, one based upon recognizing and honoring the innate goodness—what he calls ‘The Inner Child’--of every learner. Children, Joseph explains, are born with extraordinary gifts of compassion, good will and love. These core attributes need to be nurtured by children's families and schools and also honored and promoted in the wider society. Care, compassion, creativity, connection--these are the values we need to uphold, Joe implores. 

Unfortunately however, these defining attributes are oft subordinated in schools and shunted aside in our patriarchal, materialist world. As the globe confronts increasing environmental problems, growing questions of social inequality, and ongoing concern about schooling and children's well being, He reminds us to pause with ourselves and our loved ones--and look inside to honor our inner child.”

-Robert Buchanan PhD

“Joseph is a firm believer that every child arrives with an “intelligence, beauty, and perfect harmony with the world." He believes that too often our educational system and upbringing denigrate this inner child. From this premise he weaves his ideas about holistic education in a sometimes poetic, always passionate treatise. His hope is that by valuing and reclaiming our inner child we can cultivate compassion and restore balance to our world. These changes, he says will occur both interpersonally and collectively when we honor this inner child in our educational process. He draws heavily from the work of such philosophers as Jiddu Krishnamurti, Montessori, and Dewey, and the psychology of Maslow, J.P. Miller, and Mezirow to back up his beliefs. 

In the process Joseph critiques what happens all too frequently in our current educational system where rather than inspiring children, their curiosity and passion for life is often shut down. Only by reclaiming our own inner passion, says Joseph, can we truly deal with bettering our educational system and solving the myriad of global issues we deal with on a daily basis.”

Neema Caughran PhD

GODDARD COLLEGE / Plainfield, Vermont / Founded 1863