You've been given the task of designing, from the group up, a new school. All you know is that you're responsible for the education of a group of children from kindergarten through grade twelve--aside from that loose guideline, you have total freedom to design the curriculum how you wish. What would your education system look like? How would you prepare young people for life in today's world? What do you feel children should learn?

If you could pick a class to add to the elementary school curriculum in your country, what would it be? What would be taught—or untaught?

What course in school (be in elementary, high school, or university) did you find most useful, and why?

What, in your mind, does a good education involve? If you could design the ideal educational system, what would it include? How can you tell when someone's been well-educated (whatever that means to you!)? Or, put another what, what are the characteristics of a good education?

If you could learn something today that would make your life easier, or would make things better for yourself or the world, what would it be?

When you were growing up, what did you learn about religion? Did your family belong to a church? What, if anything, were you told about God? What did your parents believe?

What class or course have you found to be most useful in your life?

What knowledge, skills and values and will our children need to flourish in their lifetimes? Do you know an especially gifted parent, caregiver or educator? What can we learn from them? Who are the children in your life and how are you preparing them?

(This week is Conversation Week 2008, and in hopes of encouraging discussion around these "most important questions in the world" and connecting people worldwide in these dialogues, we'll be participating through the QaRs. Answer here, but think, too, about asking those around you the same questions, or inviting not-yet-friends to offer their thoughts.

You can find out more about Conversation Week here. Also, please consider this week, and these questions, as a way to connect through our own in-person Gaia Gatherings!)

And not to worry. At the end of the week we'll be back to our regular programming. :)