Public policy | The Circle School

Narcissism in Kids, Schools, and Politics: What Can We Do?

by Jim Rietmulder | May 3, 2025 | Daily life, Ideas, Public policy

Left and right don’t agree on much, but on narcissism it’s unanimous: bad for kids, schools, and politics. Commentators of all stripes say society is more self-obsessed and entitled than ever. People care too much about status and getting attention. Social media makes...

Tech Stocks Crash, Proving Circle School Theory

by Jim Rietmulder | Feb 19, 2025 | Ideas, Public policy

DeepSeek, a Chinese company, released its R1 artificial intelligence model last month, causing American tech stocks to crash. Why? Because R1 represents a better way to develop intelligence—by applying an essential Circle School method! R1 caused panic in the American...

Democracy, Kids, and Roller Coasters

by Jim Rietmulder | Jan 26, 2025 | Ideas, Public policy

In the week since Donald Trump’s inauguration, I’ve been musing about democracy, kids, and our roller-coaster world—the ups and downs and twists and turns. I’m comparing America with The Circle School. At two very different scales, both are democratic entities that...

Finding Happiness In School

by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 14, 2023 | Ideas, Public policy

I want children in school to find happiness. Not momentary fireworks, but the saturating joy of purpose and meaning in life. Not someday, but now, as children. I’ve noticed that kids who live fulfilling lives as kids tend to build fulfilling lives as adults. I think...

Grow up, America! Polarized politics and democratic schools

by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 13, 2021 | Ideas, Public policy

I’m disappointed by America’s dysfunctional politics. And I bet you are, too. What really gets to me is the hyper-polarization and aggressive non-cooperation. I want to yell “Grow up, America!” — but that might be insulting to the kids I work with. For me it’s...